Alameda Campaign Funding
So Voters Know Who is Funding Who & What
It’s expensive to run for public office, even in our relatively small town. In the 2018 City Council race, the five candidates raised a combined total of over $200,000. Almost $37 was raised for each vote cast for or against Measure K.
Campaign financing is a double-edge sword: on the one hand, it’s a way of showing which candidates and ballot measures have generated sufficient support among the populace to make them competitive. On the other hand, special interests can leverage their deep pockets to influence the outcome.
Campaign financing is a double-edge sword: on the one hand, it’s a way of showing which candidates and ballot measures have generated sufficient support among the populace to make them competitive. On the other hand, special interests can leverage their deep pockets to influence the outcome.
Transparency is the key. To that end, campaign finance laws require candidates to declare all contributions large and small. In California, candidates for all public offices must file a California Form 460 several times during the election cycle to document the source and amount of all campaign contributions. This gives voters an opportunity to factor in contributions to candidates when casting their ballot.
Anybody can access California Form 460 filings on the Secretary of State’s website. In addition, the Alameda City Clerk posts filings for all local candidates on the City of Alameda’s website.
Anybody can access California Form 460 filings on the Secretary of State’s website. In addition, the Alameda City Clerk posts filings for all local candidates on the City of Alameda’s website.
To enable Alameda voters to better understand the source of campaign funds without wading through these lengthy reports, the League of Women Voters of Alameda is translating these numbers into easily-understood graphics during each election. The graphics compare campaign funds by the location of contributor, the type of contributor and the size of contributions. Tables for each contest itemize contributions of $1,000 or more. At the end of each campaign we also show the amount each campaign raised per vote received.
Please let us know if you find this information helpful and what further we can do to increase your knowledge of the source of funding for each candidate and measure in future elections. You can email the League of Women Voters of Alameda at [email protected] with questions or feedback.
View the LWV of Alameda election charts below.
Please let us know if you find this information helpful and what further we can do to increase your knowledge of the source of funding for each candidate and measure in future elections. You can email the League of Women Voters of Alameda at [email protected] with questions or feedback.
View the LWV of Alameda election charts below.
Election Charts & Tables
Apr 2019 - City of Alameda Special Election
Nov 2018 - California General Election
2008-2012 - Elections for Alameda Mayor & City Council
Nov 2018 - California General Election
2008-2012 - Elections for Alameda Mayor & City Council
More on Money in Politics
California voters, you can get campaign funding information for races not profiled here at Voter's Edge California.
Want a short civics explainer on where candidates tend to get money? According to OpenSecrets.org, there are four main sources: political action committees (PACs), large individual donors, small donors, and self-funding candidates. This explainer is part of a "Top 10 Things Every Voter Should Know About Money-in-Politics" slideshow.
The League of Women Voters believes that elections should be about voters and not big money interests. It is way past time to limit Super-Pacs and secret donors to protect representative democracy.
Want a short civics explainer on where candidates tend to get money? According to OpenSecrets.org, there are four main sources: political action committees (PACs), large individual donors, small donors, and self-funding candidates. This explainer is part of a "Top 10 Things Every Voter Should Know About Money-in-Politics" slideshow.
The League of Women Voters believes that elections should be about voters and not big money interests. It is way past time to limit Super-Pacs and secret donors to protect representative democracy.