California gas tax repeal effort could help GOP candidates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Top national Republicans and grassroots donors alike are pouring money into the campaign to repeal California’s gas tax increase with the hopes it will drive turnout in November and help the GOP hold onto U.S. House seats in the heavily Democratic state.
    
Overall, committees raising money to repeal the tax hike have reported more than $4 million in contributions.
    
The biggest donors to Proposition 6 are prominent Republican candidates and groups. U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Speaker Paul Ryan, the California Republican Party and federal Republican PACs are among those high profile donors.
    
Campaign reports filed this week show thousands of smaller-dollar donors are also contributing to the initiative. Donors who have given under $1,500 have contributed at least $1 million to the effort.