Democratic parties invest heavily in Jackson campaign

Local and state democratic parties have made some sizable investments in the state Senate campaign of Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) in recent weeks in an attempt to win the hotly contested open seat in the 19th District north of Los Angeles.
 
Campaign finance reports show that since Sept. 5 Jackson, who is facing former Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), has received $82,500 from the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee and $156,000 from the California Democratic Central Committee.
 
It is the first donation from either group to the Jackson campaign in over two months.
 
Democrats hope to pick up Senate seats in November to get closer to a two-thirds majority, which would allow them to pass crucial legislation (such as budget bills) without Republican cooperation.
 
There are currently 25 Democratic state senators, with 27 being the magic number for the 45-seat chamber.