Former State Representative Fletcher N. Smith Jr., for example, said that he was offended when a staff member for Mr. Steyer came to his law office in Greenville several months ago and suggested that he become a consultant for the campaign, an overture he interpreted as an attempt to purchase his support. “I can’t be bought,” said Mr. Smith, who also formerly served on the Greenville County Council.

And some worry that a billionaire spending so much of his money delivers a distorted message to those who might seek office.

“It seems to be reinforcing the idea that only those who are wealthy should run for office,” said Brady Quirk-Garvan, the former Charleston County party chair. “I’m trying to find people to run for County Council seats and State House seats and people will say, ‘You know I don’t have money like Steyer does.’”

Lawmakers who have joined Mr. Steyer’s payroll deny there is anything inappropriate about the arrangement, saying their expertise is valuable. And in a statement issued by his campaign, Mr. Steyer said he was insulted by implications that lawmakers were for sale. As for the campaign’s decision to hire lawmakers as advisers, Jimmy Williams, a senior adviser to the campaign, said: “I can’t think of anybody better to hire than a sitting member of the House or Senate to advise us on what their constituents think.”