On April 28, most campaign committees were required to file their finance reports, which is routine. What makes these reports interesting is the length of time since we’ve seen a breakdown of what’s been raised and spent. The last data we saw was as of the end of 2021. So, now we have new data that allows us to assess campaigns’ viability, who might be leading in a race, strategy employed, where support comes from…or doesn’t, and lots of other interesting tidbits.
Thousands of reports were filed last week. The reporting period is January 1 – April 23, 2022. Let’s take a look at the top ‘o the ticket.
Our well-moisturized Governor, Gavin Newsom (D), is expected to be easily re-elected. He has three active campaign committees. Arguably, he has two viable opponents, one of whom will join him on the November ballot: State Senator Brian Dahle (R) and businesswoman Jenny Rae Le Roux (R). Dahl is the officially endorsed candidate of the California Republican Party.
Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom
$5,184 cash on hand and no contributions in 2022.
Newsom’s Ballot Measure Committee
No one around the water cooler knows which ballot measure this committee is supporting. The Committee has just over $4 million cash on hand. The expenditures are for accounting and compliance. The committee took in about $4.6 million: $50,000 from the Motor Vehicle Software Corporation; $47,200 from the Picayune Rancheria of the Chuckchansi Indians; and $3.5 million from Newsom’s Stop the Recall Committee. Reminder that ballot measure committees do not have donation limits.
Newsom for California Governor Committee
Newsom has $25,638,867 cash on hand for his barely contested reelection campaign. He raised $1,608,779 and spent $842,546. Of that, about $600,000 was spent on internet ads and text messages, $171,000 on polling/research, and the rest on consultants, fundraising, compliance and office expenses.
Brian Dahle for Governor Committee
Like Newsom, the leading Republican challenger also has more than one active campaign committee, but only his Gubernatorial committee has significant funds. It has $474,762 cash on hand. Dahle raised $1,175,023 and spent $700,731 mostly on mailers, TV/cable ads, and various, normal campaign expenses.
Jenny Rae Le Roux for Governor Committee
Le Roux raised $578,668, spent $568,982, and has $100,241 cash on hand. Most of the expenditures were for mailings.
There are other candidates vying for the Governor’s mansion, but they do not appear to have substantial funds or they are not running serious campaigns. You can see the full list of candidates’ campaign committees here.