The Consolidation Strategy - Why Democrats Donate to Republicans
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Last used in the US Senate race between Adam Schiff and Katie Porter, candidate Steve Garvey was the pawn used to 'box out' a competitive Democrat candidate, Katie Porter, so that the top Democrat handlers could guarantee their preferred candidate, Adam Schiff, made the general election ballot; and so the game continues.
Fast forward to the 2026 governor's race. Democrats are using that same strategy, but this time it's to box out one Republican to make room for one of their own. Don't believe it? Then why would Democrats spend $500,000 to influence a Republican campaign? Because the 'Garvey Strategy' (commonly referred to as the Consolidation Strategy) works.
The Consolidation Strategy has been perfected by democrats. With whispers of candidates getting funding from democrats, here are the facts: The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) funneled $500,000 into an independent expenditure committee explicitly named 'Greater Golden State, Opposing Hilton for Governor 2026.' This is not a contribution to Hilton’s campaign—it’s outside spending. As such, Democrats are clearly playing in the Republican primary, sending mailers and trying to influence the GOP field. Whether the goal is to weaken a rival or shape the November matchup, the Consolidation Strategy is in full effect in California’s top-two system.
Here is how the Consolidation Strategy works in this governor's race:
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) did not donate $500,000 (or any amount for that matter) to Steve Hilton’s campaign for California governor. (Ref: fppc.ca.gov)
Based on official California campaign finance filings and reporting:
• The DGA (via an entity called “Democratic Action, sponsored by Democratic Governors Association”) gave $500,000 to an independent expenditure (IE) committee named “Greater Golden State, Opposing Hilton for Governor 2026, Sponsored by Organizations Opposing Republican Candidates for Governor.”
• This is a separate PAC, not Hilton’s candidate committee (Steve Hilton for Governor 2026). California law treats direct contributions to a candidate’s campaign committee differently from independent expenditures by outside groups.
• Hilton’s own campaign finance reports (and trackers like Transparency USA and CalMatters) show his funding comes primarily from individual donors, self-funding, and major Republican-aligned contributors - no DGA money appears in his campaign receipts.
What the DGA money was actually used for:
The IE committee has sent mailers to Republican voters attacking Steve Hilton as too “MAGA” and Trump-endorsed. Some Republicans view this as a backfire play that inadvertently highlights his conservative credentials but that was the goal.... to help him consolidate the GOP vote. Even negative or “bad” advertising can be good advertising in a primary like this - it dramatically increases name recognition among Republican voters who might not otherwise pay close attention. Not to mention those "No Party Preference" and common sense democrat voters who are looking for a new direction. Multiple news outlets (including Politico’s California Playbook) have reported on the spending, further amplifying name recognition and association with President Trump.
This spending is a strategic play in California’s top-two primary system (June 2, 2026 primary for the November 2026 gubernatorial race).
Democrats are trying to:
• Help Hilton consolidate GOP votes (he has Trump’s endorsement which made him the easier target "promote" through "negative" mailers that say he is too MAGA and endorsed by the President").
• Weaken other Republicans (like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco) so Hilton is more likely to finish in the top two and advance to November.
• Increase the possibility of a democrat taking second place
It’s a superficial opposition campaign — the committee is technically anti-Republican and named as opposing Hilton, but the specific spending boosts Hilton in the primary to shape the general-election matchup so that it has the highest chances of including a Democrat. (Ref: amgreatness.com)
Social media and some Republican circles have circulated the $500K figure without context, leading to the false claim that it went “to Hilton’s campaign.” Official filings and contemporaneous reporting show otherwise. Why would a republican falsely make these claims without context... perhaps they don't realize they are playing right into the consolidation strategy.
Democrats typically rely on the "Divide & Conquer" strategy to get things done by overpowering. In this case, they KNOW they are losing control and the probability of NO Democrat making the November ballot is REAL. Why else would they spend half a million dollars trying to derail that possibility?
Bottom line: Democrats at the national level are using a strategy to usher Republicans to "get behind one candidate" ... in order to make room for their candidate.
DO NOT FALL FOR IT!
Vote for your preferred REPUBLICAN.
Encourage all your family and friends to VOTE for their preferred REPUBLICAN.
We need all the common sense voters of Merced County to VOTE!
Let's box out the Democrats!
-- Dolly Wright, RMPC Caucus Chair, Supervisorial District 2
