Hillary Clinton Raises "Record" Millions For Senate Democrats

Clinton brings in $2.1 million for the DSCC. Katzenberg co-hosts.

Hillary Clinton raised a record $2.1 million for Senate Democrats at a Los Angeles fundraiser organized on Monday night by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the top film executive who has positioned himself to play a leading, influential role in the possible presidential campaign many expect from the former secretary of state.

A person with knowledge of the final tally confirmed that the Clinton event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, held at Brentwood's Tavern restaurant, brought in $2.1 million. The number was first reported in Deadline.

The source said the total haul set a "record" for the DSCC.

An official with the DSCC, now struggling in the final days of the midterm elections to win enough races to keep control of the Senate, declined to confirm the total. The committee does not make public the amounts raised at its fundraisers.

The Clinton fundraiser on Monday was the second event during this year's election cycle that she has hosted for the DSCC. Also in attendance was the chairman of the committee, Sen. Michael Bennet, as well as both of California's U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, according to the DSCC official.

Clinton appeared earlier in the day at a San Francisco event for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, raising $1.4 million, a DCCC official said.

After promoting her new memoir at a series of book signings this summer, Clinton has jumped back into politics this month, hosting fundraisers for the Democratic committees and headlining a string of rallies for Democrats in states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, and Massachusetts.

Katzenberg, the CEO of DreamWorks Animation and a longtime player in the top-most circles of Democratic politics in Hollywood, is poised to be a major donor and fundraiser for Clinton, should she decides to run for president early next year.

Clinton and Katzenberg had a private meeting in Los Angeles in the spring of last year, and are said to be in touch.

The two have a long history. Katzenberg supported Bill Clinton in the '90s. In those years, he was close enough to the Clintons to lend them his vacation home and enjoy visits to the White House. But before the Democratic primary in 2008, Katzenberg and his two business partners, executives David Geffen and Steven Spielberg, split from the Clintons to back Barack Obama, then a U.S. senator.

Now, Katzenberg continues to play a strategic role in Priorities USA Action, the party's largest super PAC, where officials have said they are prepared to support Clinton early. He helped kick-start that group during the 2012 election with a check for $2 million. The PAC went on to raise and spend $65 million for Obama.

In addition to Katzenberg, who made remarks at the fundraiser, the event was co-hosted by Casey Wasserman, a major donor; Alan Horn, the Walt Disney Studios chairman; and, among others, Andy Spahn, Katzenberg's longtime political adviser.

Tickets for the event, which included a reception, photo line, and dinner, started at $32,400 per person, according to an invitation.

Skip to footer