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Fact check: Which other pro-Israel groups have donated to Gavin Newsom's campaigns?

Checked on October 15, 2025

Executive Summary

Governor Gavin Newsom has no documented donations from “pro‑Israel” groups in the provided materials; the reporting instead identifies a $10 million donation from the Soros‑linked Fund for Policy Reform related to redistricting and separately notes Newsom’s promise of $15 million for nonprofit security after a synagogue shooting. The available sources repeatedly emphasize the Soros‑funded donation and the security funding pledge, and do not list other pro‑Israel organizations as campaign donors in these accounts [1] [2] [3].

1. What journalists actually reported about major donors — the surprising focus on one big check

Three separate articles from September 19, 2025, center on a $10 million contribution by the Fund for Policy Reform, described as linked to George Soros, to support Governor Newsom’s bid to redraw California’s voting maps; these reports do not connect that donation to pro‑Israel groups or to standard campaign contributions [1] [2]. The accounts repeat the same factual claim about the single large donation to the redistricting effort, indicating consistent coverage across outlets about the magnitude and source of that specific funding and its purpose, but they do not expand the donor list.

2. The missing link — no evidence in these pieces of pro‑Israel groups giving to Newsom

None of the supplied analyses mentions donations from recognized pro‑Israel organizations—such as AIPAC, local Jewish federations, or pro‑Israeli political action committees—to Newsom’s campaign or related efforts; instead, the narrative stays focused on the Soros‑funded nonprofit’s involvement in redistricting and Newsom’s subsequent security funding announcement for nonprofits [1] [2] [3]. The absence of named pro‑Israel donors in these reports is itself a substantive finding: based on the documents provided, there is no affirmative evidence tying pro‑Israel groups to his campaign financing.

3. A different thread — Newsom’s policy response to antisemitic violence

A June 1, 2026, article highlights Governor Newsom’s plan to allocate $15 million to the State Nonprofit Security Grant Program following a synagogue shooting, demonstrating a policy response oriented toward Jewish community safety; this piece treats the funding pledge as a public‑safety action rather than a campaign finance disclosure [3]. The articles frame the spending commitment as a governmental reaction to violence, which may explain interest in Newsom’s relationship to Jewish communities, but they do not present that policy move as evidence of pro‑Israel campaign donations.

4. Divergent narratives and likely agendas in coverage — why Soros gets repeated mention

The recurring emphasis on the Fund for Policy Reform and its Soros connection across multiple pieces suggests editorial focus on large outside donors and the influence of national philanthropies in state politics [1] [2]. This framing can serve different agendas: critics of outside funding highlight perceived undue influence, while defenders might argue for support of civic reforms. The coverage’s repetition of the Soros link without naming pro‑Israel donors indicates a narrow investigative scope in these items rather than a comprehensive accounting of all contributors.

5. What’s provable from these sources — clear facts and clear gaps

From the provided materials, two facts are provable: the Fund for Policy Reform gave $10 million connected to redistricting efforts, and Newsom announced $15 million for nonprofit security after a synagogue attack [1] [3]. What remains unproven in these texts is any list of pro‑Israel groups donating to Newsom’s campaigns. The documents consistently omit such claims, so the most defensible conclusion using only these sources is that no evidence of pro‑Israel donations appears in these reports.

6. How to resolve the question definitively — what additional information is required

To determine whether pro‑Israel organizations donated to Newsom, one needs disclosure records from state campaign finance filings, federal PAC reports when applicable, and reporting from outlets that track political contributions to the governor’s campaigns. The supplied pieces do not include those documents or exhaustive donor lists, so the current evidence base is incomplete [1] [2]. Accessing official filings and diversified investigative reporting would confirm or refute any claims about pro‑Israel group donations.

7. Bottom line for readers and future verification steps

Based solely on the articles and analyses provided, the answer to "Which other pro‑Israel groups have donated to Gavin Newsom's campaigns?" is: none identified in these sources. The materials instead highlight a significant Soros‑linked donation and a separate security funding pledge after a synagogue shooting [1] [3]. For definitive verification, consult California and federal campaign finance databases and follow reporting from outlets that publish donor registries; absent those records, claims about pro‑Israel donor involvement remain unsubstantiated in the supplied coverage.

Want to dive deeper?
What is the total amount donated by pro-Israel groups to Gavin Newsom's campaigns?
How does Gavin Newsom's stance on Israel compare to other California politicians?
Which pro-Israel groups have donated to Gavin Newsom's gubernatorial campaigns since 2018?
What are Gavin Newsom's policies on Israel and the Middle East?
How do pro-Israel donations influence California state policy on Israel?