Oprah gives to young Stockton campaign

Posted by
CNN's Dana Davidsen
(CNN) - Oprah has added another campaign to her exclusive list of political donations.

Joining the likes of Barack Obama and Newark, N.J. mayor Cory Booker, Michael Tubbs was lucky enough to grab a little 'Oprah Effect.'

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According to his campaign's website, Tubbs is a 21-year-old politician who is running for city council in Stockton, California, a place ranking first on Forbes list of 'America's Most Miserable Cities' and has become America's largest city to file for bankruptcy.

A Stanford grad and Stockton native, Tubbs met Oprah while she was touring Stanford with the African Leadership Academy at a luncheon on campus. After hearing about his aspirations to revitalize the city, Oprah asked the young Democrat how she could make a donation, sending him $10,000 - one third of his campaign fundraising goal, BET first reported.

Tubbs told CNN that he feels so "thankful and humbled" by the media mogul's donation and feel that Oprah's political sentiments mimic those of his constituents.

"Oprah has only given to two other campaigns, which is a common narrative among our donors," said Tubbs who also says many of his donations come in $10-20 per month increments.

Tubbs' campaign slogan is "Reinvent Stockton" and, if elected, he could become the youngest city council member in Stockton's history.

"The city is at a crisis moment," said Tubbs, characterizing the November election as a "choice between chaos and community."

Born to a 16-year-old mom and incarcerated dad, he calls himself a "political breath of fresh air," promising to provide a fresh look at the economically wounded community, according to the candidate's website.

Tubbs election bid is showing strength with a win in a June 5 primary, grabbing just over 55 percent of Stockton voters, trumping incumbent Dale Fritchen's just under 44 percent, according to San Joaquin's Registrar of Voters. The only names on the ballot, Tubbs and Fritchen will face off again in November.

"When we started in January, we were motivated by a simple idea: that given the state of the city, that now was the time to ReInvent Stockton. Since that time we've talked to thousands of voters, walked every precinct in District 6, and have built a diverse coalition of volunteers and supporters that include school board President Sara Cazares, Delta Board of Trustee members Mary Ann Cox and Janet Rivera, Congressman Jerry McNerney, and even national icons like Oprah Winfrey. Yesterday, the residents of District 6 made their voices heard over the chorus of critics and told my opponent and the rest of the city that, "Now is the time to Reinvent Stockton,"" said Tubbs in a statement issued after his primary win.