Cash flows into races for blitz of last ads before vote
It’s the final stretch before the Nov. 5 election, and candidates in the two major San Francisco races are ramping up their spending to get them across the finish line.
Thursday marked one of the last times that candidates had to report how much money they’ve raised and spent before the election. The reports, filed to the city Ethics Commission, cover the period from Sept. 22 to Oct. 19.
Millions of dollars have poured into the upcoming election, which means voters will likely be inundated with campaign ads in their mailboxes, social media feeds and TV screens over the next few weeks. Independent expenditure committees have also increased their spending on selected candidates. Such committees can take donations of any size, but cannot directly coordinate with a campaign.
All the spending comes despite the fact that there are only two competitive races this year — District Five supervisor and district attorney.
But both races have a lot at stake: The outcome of the District Five race will influence the political makeup of the Board of Supervisors, and determine whether Mayor
London Breed has another friend or foe in City Hall. Meanwhile, the district attorney’s race was supposed to be the first open election without an incumbent for the position in more than a century. But Breed shook that up this month when she appointed her preferred candidate, Suzy Loftus, to fill in after George Gascón surprisingly resigned.
While campaign contributions are only one measure of how much support a candidate has, it provides a window into how much momentum they have heading into election day. Here’s where they stand: District Five Vallie Brown: raised $43,828 and spent $100,709 this period; raised $223,859 and spent $332,623 this year and received $152,000 in public financing.
Another $32,933 was spent this year on her behalf by an independent expenditure committee, called Friends and Neighbors in Support of Vallie Brown for Supervisor 2019.
Dean Preston: raised $30,226 and spent $76,171 this period; raised $175,294, spent $285,119 this year and received $155,000 in public financing.
Another $59,499 was spent on his behalf by an independent expenditure committee, called SF Teachers Supporting Preston for Supervisor 2019 sponsored by labor organizations. District attorney Chesa Boudin: raised $117,465 and spent $138,189 this period; raised $623,306 and spent $488,060 this year.
An independent expenditure committee called Youth and Families Taking Power Supporting Chesa Boudin for SF District Attorney 2019 spent $188,767 this year to support him.
Meanwhile, another committee sponsored by the San Francisco Police Officers Association was created to oppose him called Committee for a Safer and Cleaner San Francisco Opposing Boudin for District Attorney 2019. It has raised $55,000 total, but has not spent anything this year.
Suzy Loftus: raised $91,384 and spent $130,545 this period; raised $345,706 and spent $321,133 this year.
An independent expenditure committee — San Franciscans for a Safer City, Supporting Suzy Loftus for SF District Attorney 2019 — did not raise any money this period but spent $22,863.
Another one — Californians United for Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Supporting Suzy Loftus for District Attorney 2019 — spent $47,892 supporting Loftus, and $3,500 on a committee opposing Boudin.
Leif Dautch: raised $28,417 and spent $105,934 this period; raised $186,846 and spent $216,384 this year.
Nancy Tung: raised $49,170 and spent $65,496 this period; raised $139,922 and spent $157,854 this year.
An independent expenditure committee —
Accountability Now, Citizens in Support of Nancy Tung for San Francisco District Attorney 2019 — raised $25,000 on her behalf this year. Mayor Mayor London Breed: Even though the mayor faces no serious competition for her seat, her reelection campaign raised $14,375 this period and spent $20,544. That adds up to a total of $334,365 raised this year, and $451,982 spent.