Two former Hillary Clinton donors hosted a fundraiser for her 2016 competitor Bernie Sanders at their estate in Los Angeles Wednesday evening.
Syd Leibovitch, a real estate agent, and his wife, Linda, welcomed 300 supporters of the independent Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate to their Beverly Hills home for an event that raised approximately $150,000 for Sanders, according to Variety.
The event took place the night after Sanders competed against Clinton in the first Democratic presidential primary debate in Las Vegas.
Goth Syd and Linda Leibovich previously supported Hillary Clinton for president and U.S. Senate. Syd donated $1,000 to Hillary Clinton for President in 2007, according to Federal Election Commission records. He also contributed $1,000 to Clinton’s campaign for New York Senate in 2000.
Moreover, his wife donated $3,900 to Friends of Hillary, a committee supporting Clinton in the Senate, in 2005 and 2006, and also gave $2,300 to Hillary Clinton for President in 2008.
According to the invitation for the Sanders event, Linda Leibovitch is backing the Democratic socialist because he has "consistently stood up against big money in politics."
"Please join me in supporting Bernie. I believe that every American has a responsibility to participate in our democracy and that’s why I’m supporting Bernie Sanders," Linda said in a message about the fundraiser.
"He has consistently stood up against big money in politics and has been unwavering in his commitment to working people. Healthcare, education, clean water and air—these are but a few of our inalienable rights as Americans and rights that Bernie has consistently fought for."
Admission to Wednesday’s event started at $250 per person, but those who donated the maximum $2,700 or raised at least $10,000 were invited to a pre-event reception.
Guests were labeled "co-hosts" if they raised $10,000 or more for Sanders. There were 16 co-hosts, and only one of them appears to have donated to Clinton in the past.
Sanders’ Beverly Hills fundraiser was sold out online. It followed an event for the presidential candidate held at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood earlier Wednesday at which the filmmaker and screenwriter Seth MacFarlane endorsed Sanders.