With Contested Primary Likely, Donald Trump's Donations To California Democrats Come To Light

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Donald Trump has contributed to the campaigns of several high-profile Democrats in California including Gov. Jerry Brown.

As a candidate, his supporters say they like his straightforward approach, but as a political donor, his message isn't so clear.

His front-running pursuit of the Republican nomination includes a hardline approach to immigration, including building a wall on the Mexico border and banning sanctuary cities.

But campaign finance records show before he was campaigning for president, Trump contributed to California Democrats who back sanctuary cities.

He gave Democratic California Attorney General Kamala Harris $5,000 in 2011 and another $1,000 in 2013. He gave Democrat Gavin Newsom $2,500 in 2009, and Brown $2,500 in 2004 and another $1,000 in 2006.

California Republican strategist Rob Stutzman says that's part of the reason he doesn't support Trump.

"There's no bigger supporter of democrats running for the United States president than Donald Trump," he said.

Trump's campaign statements don't ring true to Stutzman when it comes to the candidate's past political acts.

"Donald Trump now enters politics saying the most outrageous things anyone could ever imagine coming out of the mouth of a candidate, and has expressed through prior behavior that he doesn't believe these things at all," he said.

With Ohio going to Kasich, Trump will be forced to campaign in California to earn the Republican nomination as a contested GOP Convention looks more likely.

"It very well could come down to California at this point," he said.