Golden State Today

MapLight, in collaboration with several local organizations, has released a report highlighting the influence of wealthy donors on San Diego's political landscape. The study examines campaign contributions from 2016 to 2022, revealing that large donations significantly impact funding for city council candidates.

The report was developed with input from California Common Cause, Engage San Diego, League of Women Voters of San Diego, Represent Us San Diego, Viet Voices, Voter’s Voice Initiative, and The Justice Workshop. It outlines key findings regarding donor demographics and their financial contributions.

One major finding is that two-thirds (67%) of all contribution dollars to city council candidates came from fewer than 800 individual donors out of approximately 1.4 million residents. Additionally, high-dollar contributors made up the majority of candidate funds in 2022.

The cost of running a competitive campaign has increased over time. The average winning city council candidate raised $325k in 2022 compared to $165k in 2016. Contributions were higher in areas with more white and educated residents.

Industries such as real estate and construction also played a significant role despite employing only about 8% of the workforce; they contributed 17% to campaign funding.

Daniel G. Newman, President of MapLight stated: “With candidates so dependent on high-dollar fundraising, ordinary voters have less voice in who gets elected and whose interests elected officials prioritize.”

Kim Knox from the League of Women Voters noted: “In a city of over a million residents, we have fewer than 800 individuals giving a majority of donations to our city council candidates and effectively deciding our elections."

Luis Montero-Adams from Engage San Diego remarked: “Money in politics plays an important role in who believes they are capable of running for office and what policies they enact.”

Jean-Huy Tran at Viet Voices emphasized: “San Diegans deserve a local government where our representatives represent all of us.”

David Shor from California Common Cause concluded: “This report is critical for understanding how big money is shaping the political landscape of San Diego."

The report suggests that electoral success increasingly depends on securing funds from affluent donors while highlighting concerns about representation and fairness in local elections.