Leno contributes $100K to Senate campaign effort

Assemblyman Mark Leno has contributed $100,000 towards his campaign for the state Senate, according to filings with the Secretary of State’s office.

Leno, the owner of a sign company, is facing off in a June 3 Democratic primary against incumbent Carole Migden and former Assemblyman Joe Nation.

Fundraising reports released in mid-March showed Leno having raised $142,000 since the beginning of the year. Nation, an environmental consultant, brought in $241,000 and Migden raised $377,000.

The Leno campaign said the contrbution was done in light of what it said was Nation's funding from corporate interests.

"Mark Leno is in it to win it," Leno spokeswoman Shannan Velayas told PolitickerCA.com. "Joe Nation's corporate sponsors are desperately pouring money into this race because they know Mark Leno will stand up for consumers, patients, and workers. Mark Leno is not going to stand by while corporate interests from outside the district try to buy this election so Joe Nation can carry their water in the Senate just as he did in the Assembly."

"After spending nearly $1 million in his campaign for State Senate Mark Leno has failed to convince voters to support his candidacy, another $100,000 will not make a difference," shot back Nation adviser Jim Ross. "Instead of putting more money into the race, perhaps he should come up with some original ideas."