Did Lily Mei's campaign employ a dog whistle and purposefully darken Aisha Wahab's skin?
Oakland City Council candidate in hot water over tweet in support of Ye
ELECTION 2022
Days until Election Day: 13.
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—A new ad paid for by Lily Mei’s campaign in the 10th State Senate District is receiving criticism on social media for darkening the skin of her opponent, Aisha Wahab.
—The ad indeed portrays Wahab with a darkened skin tone, cuts to a scene of African American protesters, then cuts back to a second photo of Wahab again with darkened features.
—In other parts of the country, darkening the skin tone of African American candidates has been a tactic used often this election season as a dog whistle to non-Black voters. In this case, the ad’s public safety theme, the use of Black protesters, along with claims that Wahab is soft on the issue, suggest undertones of this strategy.
—Then again, the darkened features could also be the result of the grayish tone of the scenes involving Wahab being contrasted with the bright scenes featuring Mei. Or conveniently both reasons.
—MULTI-LINGUAL ATTACK AD—Opportunity PAC was a big player in opposing Lily Mei’s campaign during the 10th State Senate District’s June primary. A new mailer from the IE, backed by SEIU California, the California Labor Federation and California Teachers Association, again highlights Mei’s involvement in a still-unresolved controversy with Fremont’s felony-charged former city manager. “Lily Mei sided with the city manager instead of the victim, and brokered a $313,000 payout,” the mailer reads. That’s the English version.
—However, the IE also tailored a version of the mailer for Chinese-speaking voters. The move is not common and may suggest the IE has polling that shows the Fremont city manager controversy is debilitating to Mei’s campaign.
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
—SIGN STEALER—The campaign of Oakland City Council District 4 candidate Nenna Joiner sports one of the best overall graphical designs in the East Bay. The fact they look so good is certainly not why three of Joiner’s large banners have been ripped down recently. Joiner is facing Janani Ramachandran in the District 4 races this fall.
—GOING WEST—Neena Joiner got into her own trouble on Tuesday after tweeting support for Ye (formerly Kanye West) after his talent agency dropped him following his recent string of anti-Semitic comments. Joiner later deleted the tweet and apologized.
—GETTING NERVOUS—Labor looks to be showing concern about Oakland City Council District 6 candidate Kevin Jenkins’ chances in the aftermath of an Oakland Chamber of Commerce poll showing him trailing perennial Oakland candidate Nancy Sidebotham. On Monday, three local unions contributed maxed-out $1,800 donations to Jenkins’ campaign, along with the Oakland Chamber of Commerce and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC.
—Jenkins is the only candidate in this race with requisite funding and institutional support. A win by Sidebotham would a monumental upset and lead to a recalculation of a number of city council priorities, including the Howard Terminal Ballpark Project.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA
—IE SPENDING—Below is Form 496 Independent Expenditure Reports from Monday through Tuesday afternoon.
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Keep California Golden (Opposing Aisha Wahab in SD10), Total: $122,833—Television Buy ($122,833).
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Keep California Golden (Opposing Liz Ortega-Toro in AD20), Total: $53,719—Television Buy ($53,719).
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Bay Rising Action Committee Sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics (Supporting Pamela Price), Total: $1,038—Digital Ads ($1,038).
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Bay Rising Action Committee Sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics (Supporting Rebecca Kaplan), Total: $1,038—Digital Ads ($1,038).
OAKLAND
—Citizens for Impactful Voting in Oakland (Supporting Loren Taylor for Mayor) Total: $16,721—Mailer ($11,529), Postage ($4,883), Data ($307).
—Citizens for Impactful Voting in Oakland (Supporting Treva Reid for Mayor) Total: $16,721—Mailer ($11,529), Postage ($4,883), Data ($307).
—Citizens for Impactful Voting in Oakland (Supporting De La Fuente for Mayor) Total: $16,721—Mailer ($11,529), Postage ($4,883), Data ($307).
—Bay Rising Action Committee Sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics (Supporting Nikki Fortunato Bas), Total: $1,038—Digital Ads ($1,038).
—Bay Rising Action Committee Sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics (Supporting Janani Ramachandran), Total: $1,038—Digital Ads ($1,038).
—MONEYBALL—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Monday through Tuesday afternoon. *-local city campaign contribution limit.
COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATS
—Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Unity PAC, a sponsored committee of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, $2,000.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—Terry Wiley (Alameda County District Attorney), Victor Felson of San Francisco, $20,000; Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, $5,000.
ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Rebecca Kaplan (Alameda County Board of Supervisors-Dist. 3), M. Quinn Delaney of Oakland, $2,500.
—Alameda County Tenants Families and Workers supporting Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022 (Supporting Kaplan), Unity PAC, a sponsored committee of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, $10,000.
AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Barisha Spriggs (AC Transit Board of Directors-Ward 4), California Conference Board Amalgamated Transit Union Small Contributor Committee, $4,000.
AC TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
—Corina Lopez (EBMUD Board of Directors-Ward 7), Unity PAC, a sponsored committee of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, $1,200; Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Local PAC, $1,200.
PERALTA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
—Louis Quindlen (Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees-Area 3), California Federation of Teachers COPE, $1,075, $500.
—Saleem Gilmore (Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees-Area 5), Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Local PAC, $2,000; California Federation of Teachers COPE, $1,075, $500.
—Seth Steward (Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees-Area 7), Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Local PAC, $2,000; California Federation of Teachers COPE, $1,075, $500.
CITY
OAKLAND
—Working Families for a Better Oakland Supporting Sheng Thao for Mayor 2022 (Supporting Thao), Unity PAC, a sponsored committee of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, $25,000; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595, $25,000; International Association of Fire Fighters Local 55 PAC, $10,000.
—Citizens for Impactful Voting in Oakland (Supporting Taylor, Reid, De La Fuente for Mayor), Goolshan Chinoy of San Francisco, $5,000; Michael Ubell of Oakland, $2,500.
—Californians for Safer Streets Supporting Ignacio De La Fuente for Mayor of Oakland (Supporting De La Fuente), Griffin Tischler of San Francisco, $5,000.
—Yes on W, Oakland Fair Elections, Sponsored by Civic Advocacy Organizations Committee Address (Supporting Oakland Measure W campaign reform), Oakland Rising Ballot Committee Supporting Measure T & W sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics, $5,031.
—Yes on T Invest in Our Oakland 2022 Sponsored by SEIU Local 1021 & IFPTA Local 21 (Supporting Oakland Measure T progressive biz tax), Oakland Rising Ballot Committee Supporting Measure T & W sponsored by Center for Empowered Politics, $4,816.
—Nikki Fortunato Bas (Oakland City Council-Dist. 2), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Political Action Together Legislative Education Committee, $1,800*.
—Kevin Jenkins (Oakland City Council-Dist. 6), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21, $1,800*; Jane Fonda Climate PAC, $1,800*; Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, $1,800*; Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104, $1,800; International Association of Firefighters Local 55 PAC, $1,800*.
ALAMEDA
—Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft (Alameda Mayor), International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers Local 549 PAC, $4,900.
—Jim Oddie (Alameda City Council), Alameda Sushi House, $1,500; Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Local PAC, $1,000.
—Hannah Groce (Alameda City Council), Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483 Local PAC, $1,000.
LIVERMORE
—Yes on G for Livermore Schools (Supporting Livermore Joint USD Measure G bond), Delta Pacific Beverage, $3,000; Kitchem Cem, Inc., $2,000; Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP, $1,000.
—Evan Branning (Livermore City Council-Dist. 1), Livermore Pleasanton Firefighter Local 1974-PAC Candidate, $1,000.
—Mel Chiong (Livermore City Council-Dist. 2), IBEW Local 595 PAC Small Contributor Committee, $1,000.
PLEASANTON
—Jamie Yee (Pleasanton City Council-Dist. 3), IBEW Local 595 PAC Small Contributor Committee, $1,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—Lily Mei (10th State Senate District), CalRETAILERS Political Action Committee, $4,900; CA Fuels & Convenience Alliance PAC, $2,500; Cargo PAC California Trucking Association, $2,000.
—Aisha Wahab (10th State Senate District), California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment PAC, $4,900.
20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Liz Ortega-Toro (20th Assembly District), Robert Rivas for Assembly 2022, $4,900.
18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Union of American Physicians and Dentists Small Contributor Committee, $4,900; Elevance Health, Inc. and its affiliate Anthem Blue Cross, $2,500.
16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), Elevance Health, Inc. and its affiliate Anthem Blue Cross, $2,000.
14TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), Blue Shield of California, $4,900.