By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

October 8, 2014 – With four weeks left until the November general election, activist Sandra Fluke and Santa Monica School Board member Ben Allen have raised about a million dollars each in the closely watched race for State Senate.

So far, Fluke and Allen have spent $815,487 and $792,823, respectively, in order to reach the 602,459 registered voters within the Westside-based district, according to financial disclosure forms filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office Monday.

Fluke has taken the lead over Allen in official campaign contributions, but Allen still enjoys a lead in financing due to the support of independent expenditures.

During the July 1 to September 30 fundraising period, Fluke raised $474,429.39, boosting her fundraising total for the general election to $1,102,994.94, according to financial disclosure forms.

Allen, who defeated Fluke in the primary, raised $300,585.95 from campaign donors, bringing his total to $964,577.69 for the state senate race.

In addition to direct donations to his campaign, Allen also benefits from the support of independent expenditures from Republican-turned-independent businessman Bill Bloomfield.

While direct contributions to candidates’ campaigns are capped at $4,100 for individuals and $8,200 for so-called small committees, there is no limit for how much can be spent through independent expenditures, as long as the people and groups spending the money do not coordinate with the candidate.

Bloomfield has spent a total of $667,125.98 in support of Allen, so far.  Most of this money is spent on mailers, polling, survey research and consultants.

Bloomfield, who spent approximately $8 million of his own money in a failed attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman in 2012, also contributed $4,100 directly to Allen’s campaign this month. Bloomfield’s wife Susan gave Allen the same amount.

Allen told The Lookout that those donations came unsolicited, and he and Bloomfield are not working together on his campaign.

While Allen is a progressive Democrat, he has recently been under fire for accepting money from conservative and Republican sources, including Bloomfield, Latham & Watkins law firm employees and billionaire William Oberndorf.

Political experts say that Allen’s support from Republicans can be attributed to Fluke’s public feud with conservative radio show host and Republican icon Rush Limbaugh, who called Fluke a “slut” after she testified before congressional Democrats about contraceptives being included in Obamacare.

Fluke, who has limited interaction with Allen and rarely mentions him by name in her campaign, has taken advantage of Allen’s conservative ties by pressing the issue in her fundraising emails.

"I'm up against an opponent being propped up by Republican mega-donors with extreme conservative agendas," she said in a statement to supporters. 

Although neither the state nor county Democratic clubs have made an endorsement in the hotly contested race, both candidates have the backing for prominent Democracts.

In addition to winning the support of major Santa Monica groups and elected officials, Allen has been endorsed by out-going retiring congressman Henry Waxman, LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, LA City Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Paul Koretz, Assemblymember Richard Bloom and Actor/Environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.

Fluke has received endorsements from California Attorney General Kamala Harris; Texas congressman Joaquin Castro Congresswoman Janice Hahn; Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins; labor icon Dolores Huerta; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and EMILY’s List, among others.

Allen and Fluke are competing to replace State Senator Ted Lieu, who is currently running for the seat Waxman has held for four decades.

The winner of November’s election will represent a wealthy district that stretches along the coast from Pacific Palisades to Ranchos Palos Verdes and includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, portions of Hollywood, Brentwood and Westwood.