EXPENDITURE CEILING LIFTED IN CD 1 PRIMARY ELECTION RACE

The expenditure ceiling has been lifted in the June 7 primary election race for City Council District (CD) 1, as a result of $94,899 in independent spending to support candidate Gilbert Cedillo.

Two committees reported the spending: $56,204 was reported by Building a Stronger California, Sponsored by Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters; and $38,694 was reported by California Apartment Association Housing Solutions Committee.

Candidates who participate in the City’s matching funds program must limit their campaign spending in both the primary and general elections. For the upcoming primary election, the expenditure ceiling for participating City Council candidates is $571,000.

The expenditure ceiling is lifted and no longer applies in a particular City Council race when either of the following occurs: a candidate not participating in the matching funds program spends more than the expenditure ceiling or independent spending to support or oppose a single candidate totals more than a certain dollar threshold. For the 2022 elections, the independent spending threshold is $92,000 for City Council races.

Independent spending occurs when a person incurs costs for one or more political communications that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure and the communications are not coordinated with or authorized by a candidate. At this point in the election, a person must report independent spending and provide copies of communications to the Ethics Commission within 24 hours of making or incurring the costs.

Details regarding contributions, expenditures, matching funds, independent expenditures, and political communications are provided on the Ethics Commission’s Election Totals page. Campaign data may be searched and disclosure reports may be viewed through the Public Data Portal. Information about committees is summarized in the Campaign Committees Table, and visualizations of contributor information can be viewed in the Contributor Dashboard.