Steven Poizner

Should they decide to enter the 2010 race for governor, former EBay CEO Meg Whitman and State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will likely have to explain to Republican voters why in recent years they have donated thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates.

Contribution reports show that Whitman gave former State Controller Steve Westly, with whom she worked at EBay, $20,000 in combined donations for his 2002 run for controller and 2006 campaign for governor. In 2005 she contributed $1,000 to state Sen. Joe Simitian’s 2008 reelection campaign. She made contributions to candidates for national offices as well: $1,000 to U.S. Rep. Mike Honda in 2002, $1,000 to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell in 2002, $1,000 to U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson in 2006, $2,000 to U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2003, and $1,000 to U.S. Sen. John Kerry in 1999.

Unlike Whitman, a political newcomer, Poizner’s record has been vetted in the course of a previous campaign. In his 2006 run for his current seat, Republicans became acquainted with Poizner’s contributions to Democrats, which included $10,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 2000, $1,000 to Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000 and $2,000 to Kerry in 2001.

California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres predicts a crowded field in the 2010 gubernatorial primary: Getty Images PhotoCalifornia Democratic Party chair Art Torres expects to see a crowded Democratic Party field in the 2010 gubernatorial race, he told PolitickerCA.com Tuesday.

“I think we will have a very crowded field. And the more candidates the better,” Torres said, adding that he believed the Democrats pondering a bid comprised an impressive list.

Torres said that Republicans do not have a deep bench as they look towards the 2010 campaign. He said that aside from Insurance Commissioner Steven Poizner and former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman, there seems to be little interest.

Torres also took a dig at Whitman, who has been active in Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign, saying that she came off as unimpressive.