No one watching television in Santa Clara will be surprised to know that the four 49ers independent expenditure committees added $576,200 to their independent expenditure committee coffers, boosting their total donations to $2,150,000. The police union PAC received no additional donations to last week’s total of $137,800; nor did the Related independent expenditure committee, leaving its total donations at $49,000.
The Santa Clara Firefighters Union PAC has yet to file any financial reports for this election cycle in the city, although they are spending money on flyers.
The only Santa Clara candidate to report new donations is City Clerk candidate Bob O’Keefe, who loaned $10,000 to his campaign.
To date, $2.5 million has been donated in Santa Clara this election cycle. This report is current as of Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
California Campaign Money Machine
If you want to know how money is being spent in California state elections, all of that information is available on the California Secretary of State’s website at cal-access.sos.ca.gov. The site offers a Power Search (powersearch.sos.ca.gov) that drills into data going back to 2001 about candidates, ballot measure, donors and committees, and provides information about both cumulative and individual donations and spending.
In the 2023-2024 state election cycle:
- Candidates and ballot measures received $1.77 billion in donations. $600 million of that comes from out of state.
- $374.8 million was donated to support or oppose ballot measures. $33.3 million of that comes from out of state.
- Independent expenditure committees received $83.9 million in donations.
- Candidate committees received $79.3 million in donations.
Election day is Nov. 5, 2024. To register to vote, visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website. The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before the election.
Previous Follow the Money Updates:
2024 Follow The Money Update: 49ers Spend Another $243K, Police Union Deposits Another $70,000
2024 Follow the Money Update: Gillmor and Santa Clara Police PAC Fund Campaign Kickoffs, 49ers PAC War Chest Tops $1.5 Million
2024 Follow the Money: Related Opens the Checkbook, More 49ers Media Spending
Follow the Money 2024: 49ers Shovel in $930K, Chandra Raises Money Out of Town
View Comments (5)
wow that Bob must be wealthy he loaned himself 10K to run for a part time job? that doesn't pay very much ? Lisa Lisa Lisa - is this financially wise?
Bobby Bob,
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People do not run for city council to make money. I am sure that Suds Jain did not loan his campaign $20 thousand in order to make a city councilperson salary.
Well, well, well, isn’t this just delightful? We’re all supposed to sit here and believe that the Santa Clara Firefighters Union PAC is operating with some magical pixie dust, cranking out glossy flyers without spending a dime! I mean, who knew firefighting came with a printing press on the side? So, when exactly can we expect someone to ask them to actually file a campaign statement, you know, like the rest of us mere mortals?
And speaking of miracles, let’s talk about the Related Company’s independent expenditure committee. $49,000, really? I’m no CPA, but I can tell you that what’s flooding mailboxes looks more like a solid down payment on a penthouse, not pocket change. Someone ought to find out how they’re managing to get the printing done on a shoestring—maybe they can offer a budget class after this is all over.
Until then, folks, looks like we’re stuck in the land of glossy flyers and invisible bookkeeping.
The Firefighters PAC reported the expenditure this week. My understanding is that expenditures are to be reported within 24 hours, but the reporting requirements are filled with exceptions, and special conditions.
I believe that the Forty Niners have now spent around $10 Million Dollars on Santa Clara elections just since 2020.
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Jed York lives in Los Altos Hills and we all know he spends money on Santa Clara investments as a business investment. Like all investments the idea is that they will make more back in return.
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This kind of spending and what they are expecting to get in return must be a big concern for all Santa Clarans. Even if you currently have a priority of removing Lisa Gillmor's influence out of city government. Even if you currently feel confident that the current councilpeople the Forty Niners have spent millions to support are honestly and faithfully representing the interests of all Santa Clarans. Even if you feel the same about the new candidates the Forty Niners are spending millions to elect to council.
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The Forty Niners' business interests in Santa Clara do not end when Karen Hardy and Suds Jain and Raj Chahal and Kevin Park get termed out.
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Why are the Forty Niners still spending millions of dollars on little Santa Clara city council races when they already have a big council majority? If the current council majority has been able to outvote Lisa Gillmor since 2020 and has put an end to anything that the Forty Niners has disagreed with even if you think that Gillmor's position was unfair or bad for the city it is important to ask why they are still spending millions?
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What do they expect to get in return for their investment?
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Similarly we should be asking what Related expects to get in return for their spending? As well as the SCPOA.
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But let us not pretend as if what they have spent over the years comes close to what the Forty Niners have spent just this year and especially the $10 Million Dollars or more that the Forty Niners have spent in just the past four years.
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There are strings attached to all of this but in the case of the Forty Niners the amount of money suggests that their spending does not have strings attached but instead have very heavy ropes attached.
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As the years go on and we get closer to decisions to be made about renovations or rebuilding of the stadium I hope we are asking the question of what the Forty Niners expect in return. I hope we are questioning the motives and the loyalty of city councilpeople and the mayor when they are all voting 7-0 on stadium issues and every single one of them has received mountains of money in campaign support from the Forty Niners.