SACRAMENTO — Lost in the hoopla over Democratic victories last week was the emergence this election of a powerful new player with millions of dollars to spend and a clearly defined political agenda--the American Indian.
As the dust from the political season began to settle, it became clear that no other group had invested more in the election than Native Americans, and that no group is likely to wield as much influence on gambling issues in the future as the California tribes that operate casinos.
Not only were Native Americans filling the airwaves with commercials touting their casino initiative, Proposition 5, but behind the scenes they were pouring millions into dozens of political races, from Assembly to governor.
In the final week, Indian tribes pumped nearly $2 million into state campaigns, outspending any other interest and eclipsing even the $1.6 million organized labor poured into political races in the same period.
By Nov. 3, Indians had spent more than $70 million on their initiative and separately invested a total of $4 million in Democratic and Republican campaigns.
"It's blown the doors off everything we've ever seen in the state of California," said Sean Walsh, Gov. Pete Wilson's spokesman. "From a political perspective you just have to admire their audacity and the breathtaking scope of their contributions."
The emergence of Native Americans as major contributors in the political process is the culmination of a trend that began in 1994 when the tribes dropped $800,000 into Democrat Tom Umberg's losing campaign for attorney general.
Initially, most of the Indian money went to Democrats, but in the 1996 election Native Americans began sprinkling contributions among some Republicans whose districts housed gambling casinos.
This year, Indians spread their dollars evenly between the two parties and dramatically increased both the amount they gave and the number of candidates who received their largess.
Gubernatorial winner Gray Davis racked up more than $750,000 in Indian contributions, Republican attorney general candidate Dave Stirling collected $396,000 and Assembly candidate Phil Hawkins, also a Republican, picked up $120,000.
"They have understood that the battles no longer are about bows and arrows and guns," said Nikki Symington, a spokesperson for several tribes. "The battles are now about politics, and for the first time in their lives, they are armed as equally as the rest of us and they have used it well."
