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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Kristin Bertolina Faust

Illustration by Chris Shary

80: Kristin Bertolina Faust

Jess Unruh once famously said that money is the mother’s milk of politics. If that’s true, then shouldn’t there be more fundraisers on this list? After all, big money fundraisers like Bertolina Faust spend a lot of time with the elected officials they work for, and whether they are good at their job or not can make or break a political career. We clearly thought she was worthy back in 2021 when she was No. 98 on the list, and there was a good reason for it then and now. Bertolina Faust is a Democratic fundraiser and strategist who founded BB&G, a Sacramento-based fundraising and political consulting firm, in 1999. Their current client roster includes over 25 elected officials and committees including Lt. Governor – and aspiring governor – Eleni Kounalakis, the state senate Democratic Caucus and Governor Newsom’s successful defeat of the recall. Faust also worked with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on his successful 2022 Senate run. While she is Newsom’s top overall fundraiser, we should offer shout outs to Newsom’s Bay Area and LA money people, Stephanie Roumeliotes & Ryan Baukol.

Updated Aug. 15, 2023

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