Since the bills’ introduction in late October, the Stop Online Piracy Act  (SOPA) (H.R. 3261) and its Senate counterpart the Protect IP Act (PIPA) (S. 968) have been met with controversy. The legislation has unleashed passions that cross party lines, as vividly illustrated in the California delegation, where the fight over SOPA has turned into battle between the North and South:  Hollywood media giants versus the heavy hitters from the tech world in Silicon Valley.

Southern California Democratic Reps. Howard Berman, Joe Baca, Karen Bass, Adam Schiff, Judy Chu and Brad Sherman and Republican Reps. Mary Bono-Mack and Elton Gallegly are proponents of the SOPA bill according to ProRepublica.

Berman has been an active supporter of SOPA since its creation. He joined Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, and Reps. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, John Conyers, D-Mich., Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., on Capitol Hill in April for a press conference on fighting online infringement.

“The theft of American Intellectual Property not only robs those in the creative chain of adequate compensation, but it also stunts potential for economic growth, cheats our communities out of good paying jobs, and threatens future American innovation,” he said at the media event. “Today I remain as committed to this fight as ever, and I look forward to working with my colleagues – both Republicans and Democrats to protect American businesses, workers, and innovators.”

Party Time records on Berman show that he has had four fundraisers with lobbyists representing clients such as Verizon Communications, Comcast Corporation and the National Association of Broadcasters. One fundraiser in October included the Yahoo! Inc., PAC.

While Berman’s says his aim is to protect American intellectual property, his efforts also would protect a long-time and lucrative constituency in a year when the veteran lawmaker is in the fight of his political life, forced by redistricting into a battle with another powerful Democratic colleague. Berman, who has long represented parts of Hollywood as well as Studio City and Universal City, where many television shows are made, counts television, film and music among his top financial supporters, according to OpenSecrets. Those industries are also leading the fight for enactment of legislation to stop online piracy.

Another California Democrat who backs SOPA, Rep. Adam Schiff, has received contributions from of the legislation such as Comcast, Microsoft (which just announced it opposes the current draft of the bill), the Motion Picture Association of America PAC, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney, and Time Warner.

Schiff’s 29^th Congressional District, which includes Burbank, is home to Warner Brothers Studios, Disney Studios, NBC Studios, and DreamWorks Animation Studios. Party Time has the invite to Schiff’s  First Annual Weekend with the Stars fundraiser, scheduled for March in Los Angeles.

Among other SOPA supporters who have been feted by backers of the legislation:

Rep. Joe Baca: Jocelyn Hong, a Twenty-First Century Group lobbyist who represents clients such as Time Warner Cable and Verizon Communications — both SOPA supporters — has hosted two fundraisers for the California Democrat.

Rep. Mary Bono-Mack: The AT&T Federal PAC hosted a fundraiser for the Palm Springs Republican in April, with tickets ranging from $1,500 for PACs and $1,000 for individuals. The AT&T Federal PAC has given $5,000 to Bono-Mack. Other proponents of SOPA, including, but not limited the Walt Disney Productions Employees PAC, the Motion Pictures Association of America PAC, Comcast Corporation PAC had made contributions to Bono-Mack.

Of the 189 opponents of the SOPA/PIPA legislation, 9 are Democrats from northern California, home of many of the tech firms that are leading the opposition to the bills. The list includes: Reps. Anna Eschoo, Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, George Miller, Jackie Speirer, Pete Stark, and the leader of the House Democrats, Nancy Pelosi.

Lobbyist Dom Ruscio was one of the hosts for a breakfast reception in June for Honda. Ruscio is a lobbyist at Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates LLC and one of the clients he represents is the IBM Corporation. IBM is one of many tech companies that oppose SOPA.

Lofgren’s 16^th congressional district covers most of the Santa Clara County, which includes the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose. Lofgren’s top contributors are tech industry titans, including Google Inc., which has been a vocal opponent of SOPA.

In March, Rep. Lofgren held a Technology Industry Breakfast, with tickets starting at $2,500 for PACs and $500 for individuals.

As they enter 2012, both members of Congress fighting to keep their seats and challengers are stepping up their fundraising for the upcoming primaries and the general elections. Either because of redistricting or a high profile opponent, several of these office holders are looking at tight races.

In the run up to the elections, all eyes will be on the Massachusetts Senate race, between Sen. Scott Brown, who replaced Ted Kennedy after his demise, and Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren. Brown has raised over $3.2 million in the fourth quarter in 2011. Since his Kick-off Reception and Dinner event in May 2011, Brown has had over ten fundraisers, according to Party Time Records.

Although Warren’s fundraising numbers are not in as of yet, she has been busy in 2011 and the beginning of 2012. She rung in the New Year in Salem, Mass., at an event. She also held two joint fundraisers with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and one with Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., last year.

Due to redistricting, Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and his longtime ally, Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., find themselves in a battle for the San Fernando Valley. According to Party Time records, Berman had scheduled nine fundraising events since his 2012 Campaign Kick-off Breakfast in March 2011. His most recent event was a California Wine Tasting, which featured several California lawmakers including, Reps. Xavier Becerra and Joe Baca. Not to be out shined, Rep. Sherman’s list of fundraisers included a dinner featuring former Governor Michael Dukakis.

Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., is another lawmaker who may face some difficulty in his reelection bid due to redistricting. Allen’s district includes the northern edge of Palm Beach County down to north of Hollywood, Fla., in Broward County, which leans democrat. In February, Allen is scheduled to have his 1st Annual Florida Winter Trip. His event starts off with a Sunset Reception on Feb. 18, followed by a Luncheon and Golf Outing and a Mardi Gras Reception on Feb. 21. To purchase a package, which includes two tickets for both Naples and Palm Beach events will cost $2,500.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is hoping to make some gains in the Lone Star State. According to The Hill, the Republican drawn congressional map is more than likely to be thrown out prior to the next election. This would open some seats for Democrats. Two seats they are looking to target are Reps. Francisco “Quico” Canseco and Blake Farenthold. During a briefing at the National Democratic Committee headquarters DCCC Chairman, Rep. Steve Israel, D-Calif., stated that Canseco and Farenthold have “enormous vulnerability.”

Party Time only has one record of a Farenthold fundraiser that was held in June 2011. Rep. Canseco fundraisers include a Patriot Day Reception of June of last year.

Members of Congress had planned dozens of fundraisers in the nation’s capital this week, but with Congress adjourning for recess after reaching a deal to raise the debt limit, many events have been put off.

Yet at least one lawmaker—Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.—is sticking around town and will attend a Thursday campaign fundraiser.

Sherman isn’t going anywhere, campaign consultant Mike Fraioli said, especially since his wife, who lives in the area, is planning to have a baby in two days. His event attempts to raise between $500 and $5,000 per attendee.

That’s not the case for his colleagues. At least five fundraisers have been canceled or postponed. Many more may be delayed as well, but calls to other congressional offices and campaign consultants were not immediately returned on Tuesday. Still other consultants would not comment on the events.

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-N.Y., who narrowly won her upstate New York seat last November, had landed Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, for a D.C. fundraiser today, but it’s been canceled, spokeswoman Liza Lowery said. Scheduling a big-name congressman for a fundraiser can sometimes take months, and the event was to attract as much as $5,000 per head.

A member of the GOP leadership, Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, was also supposed to raise money today—at a hip bar in Logan Circle—but that, too, was called off, a campaign consultant said. Conservative darling Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was set to help him attract large checks.

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, along with three fellow Patton Boggs lobbyists, were ready to fete the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Dave Camp, R-Mich., on Thursday. Camp spokeswoman Megan Piwowar said, “The event is not happening.”

Events this week for two other legislators, Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and James Renacci, R-Ohio, were also postponed, campaign consultants said.

The fundraisers that we are told are canceled or postponed are marked as such on each event’s page. If you know of other events being called off, please email partytime@sunlightfoundation.com.

In case you were wondering: Rep. Brad Sherman, D., Calif., will attend his fundraiser this afternoon at the offices of the Democratic National Committee.

We know because we received another notice of the event, this one with the tag line on top: “Congressman Sherman will be present at the reception on October 7.”

Presumably the congressman’s staff put the note up top to reassure donors who might think that he is back in his district campaigning. His office also confirmed on the phone that the congressman, who serves on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs committees (which the invitation also points out), is definitely attending.

Sherman’s race is not considered competitive; according to the Center for Responsive Politics, he has raised $1.3 million to his opponent’s $18,000.