EXPENDITURE CEILING LIFTED IN CD 15 PRIMARY ELECTION RACE

The expenditure ceiling has been lifted in the June 7 primary election race for City Council District (CD) 15, as a result of $106,265 in independent spending to support candidate Tim McOsker.  

Two committees reported the spending:  $98,004 was reported by the Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC; and $8,261 was reported by Working Families Committee for Soto, Price, and Good for Council and Kevin DeLeon for Mayor and Opposing O’Farrell for Council 2022, sponsored by UNITE HERE Local 11.

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.

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.

Additional information about candidates, independent spending, and political communications in the 2022 primary elections is available on the Election Totals page.  Campaign activity and political communications may also be searched on the Public Data Portal and the Campaign Committees Table.