Democrat Wendy Davis has several Hollywood celebrities backing her bid to become the next Texas governor, according to the
Dallas Morning News.
The state senator’s latest campaign filing shows she has a long list of major donors among the elite of the entertainment and film world as she faces an uphill battle to defeat Republican Greg Abbott in the November election to take over from outgoing Gov. Rick Perry.
Director Steven Spielberg and his actress wife, Kate Capshaw, donated $25,000 to Davis’ gubernatorial race. Dreamworks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife, Marilyn, who hosted a fundraiser earlier this year for Davis in California, gave the same amount.
Actress Jennifer Garner, wife of film star Ben Affleck, also contributed $25,000, while Matt Damon and Marlo Thomas gave $5,000 each.
"Two and a Half Men" actress Holland Taylor, who wrote and starred in the one-woman play "ANN!" about former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, donated $2,500.
Davis also received $1,000 apiece from actresses Carrie Fisher and Elisabeth Shue, and the same figure from filmmaker Judd Apatow. Tom Hanks and Leonard Nimoy gave Davis $500 each.
Texas country music legend Willie Nelson, who has performed at a Davis fundraiser, made an "in-kind" contribution of $250,000 while singing legend Barbra Streisand donated $1,000, said the newspaper.
Davis raised $11.2 million in her latest filing, covering the period from the May primary through June 30. Abbott, raised about $11 million but has $35.6 million in the bank, compared with $13.1 million on hand for Davis, said the Morning News.