Overview
- Campaign filings that covered the period April 19 to May 16 showed Tom Steyer’s campaign paid at least $122,000 to named social media creators and more than $2.6 million to digital vendor Group Project.
- Influencers Kaitlyn Hennessy and Beatrice Gomberg filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission alleging many paid pro‑Steyer posts lacked the required sponsorship disclosures.
- The Steyer campaign responded with its own FPPC complaint accusing Becerra-linked influencers of improper disclosures and coordinated amplification, including claims about networks of accounts boosting rivals.
- After the complaints surfaced, several creators edited posts to add disclosure language and at least one high‑profile advisor, Carlos Eduardo Espina, publicly reported receiving $400,000 for campaign work.
- California’s 2023 law requires influencers to label paid political posts but enforcement is complaint driven with limited penalties, and advocates are pressing the Federal Election Commission for stronger, nationwide disclosure rules.