California’s gaming tribes have apparently decided to sit out of the contest for the U.S. Senate between state Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez as they battle to succeed retiring Senator Barbara Boxer.
This, despite the fact that gaming tribes are among the most active contributors to election campaigns in the Golden State, spending money on offices as lowly as county supervisor and as powerful as president.
Due to California’s peculiar primary system, both candidates are members of the Democratic Party. Both have apparently done things that offended Native Americans.
Sanchez did it by making what has been called her “war cry” gaffe last year when she made a howling, wailing sound to describe the difference between Native Americans and Indian Americans.
Harris did it by being perceived as hostile to tribal interests, something that she apparently did since her two campaigns for attorney general, when she received more than $100,000 in donations from about a dozen tribes.
Harris has been criticized for not cracking down on alleged violations of gaming laws by card clubs and for not going after daily fantasy sports websites.
“My guys are like, let’s just sit out of it,” said one lobbyist for several tribes.
It is early in the campaign, however, and some tribes are expected to choose one candidate or the other before November.
