Lateefah Simon's congressional campaign posts strong fundraising numbers
Barbara Lee's senate campaign is still struggling to attract donors; DA Pamela Price recall campaign begins in earnest
ELECTION 2024
12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—SIMON SAYS—Lateefah Simon’s congressional campaign continued a run of strong fundraising activity during the third quarter of this year, according to finance reports released on Monday.
—Simon, who serves on the BART Board of Directors and is hoping to replace Barbara Lee in the 12th Congressional District, raised $263,332 between July 1 and Sept. 30.
—For the year, Simon’s total fundraising is $861,281, a total that significantly dwarfs the entire field’s fundraising results for the past nine months.
—The three other candidates who have filed finances reports this year reported raising a combined $160,000.
—Combined with Simon’s fundraising prowess and strong support among local officials and labor unions, the only obstacle in her way may be Lee, whose campaign for the U.S. Senate has struggled to keep pace with challengers Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.
—Lee has until the Dec. 8 filing deadline to decide whether to continue her senate campaign, seek re-election to her congressional seat, or perhaps seek retirement.
—Below is campaign finance numbers, including fundraising received and spent during the second quarter period covering July 1 through Sept. 30; fundraising received and spent during the entire year; and cash on hand:
12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda-San Leandro)
LATEEFAH SIMON (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $263,332
Cash OUT $228,181
Cash IN (2023) $861,281
Cash OUT (2023) $530,215
Cash on Hand $331,066
TIM SANCHEZ (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $26,459
Cash OUT $48,051
Cash IN (2023) $97,485
Cash OUT (2023) $87,864
Cash on Hand $9,621
TONY DAYSOG (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $1,905
Cash OUT $1,058
Cash IN (2023) $3,005
Cash OUT (2023) $2,046
Cash on Hand $958
*NO REPORT: Jennifer Tran (D) (Reported $62,414 cash in hand through June 30); Denard Ingram (D), and Andre Todd (D).
14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(Tri-Valley-Hayward-Tri-Cities)
ERIC SWALWELL (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $567,374
Cash OUT $467,070
Cash IN (2023) $1,968,650
Cash OUT (2023) $1,768,695
Cash on Hand $982,939
VIN KRUTTIVENTI (R)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $106,592
Cash OUT $110,626
Cash IN (2023) $361,108
Cash OUT (2023) $136,371
Cash on Hand $224,736
*NO REPORT: Alison Hayden (R), Joe Grcar (R), Luis Reynoso (R).
17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(Fremont-Milpitas-San Jose-Santa Clara)
RO KHANNA (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $1,150,205
Cash OUT $504,261
Cash IN (2023) $5,117,965
Cash OUT (2023) $1,673,032
Cash on Hand $8,886,305
RITESH TANDON (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $3,026
Cash OUT $2,001
Cash IN (2023) $3,183
Cash OUT (2023) $9,787
Cash on Hand $1,168
10TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(Concord-Brentwood-Walnut Creek-San Ramon-Dublin)
MARK DESAULNIER (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $83,096
Cash OUT $47,845
Cash IN (2023) $230,203
Cash OUT (2023) $1,396,617
Cash on Hand $677,613
NOLAN CHEN (R)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $2,850
Cash OUT $270
Cash IN (2023) $2,850
Cash OUT (2023) $270
Cash on Hand $2,579
*NO REPORT: Musa Jalis (R), Katherine Piccinini (R).
U.S. SENATE
—CASH POOR—Already struggling to keep up on the money front, Barbara Lee’s third quarter finance report did nothing to suggest her chances in the March Primary have increased.
—Lee raised just over $1 million for the fundraising period covering July 1 through Sept. 30.
—A troubling fact for Lee’s campaign is she raised roughly the same amount during the first two quarters of this year, strongly suggesting her message is not exciting donors and potential supporters.
—For the year, Lee has raised $3.4 million, while reporting $1.3 million in cash on hand.
—Adam Schiff, however, raised $6.5 million during the same period, while reporting a whopping $32 million in cash on hand.
—Katie Porter, reported raising $3.4 million for the period, and $12 million in cash on hand.
U.S. SENATE
ADAM SCHIFF (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $6,480,442
Cash OUT $4,153,782
Cash IN (2023) $22,960,393
Cash OUT (2023) $11,649,737
Cash on Hand $32,127,523
KATIE PORTER (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $3,448,279
Cash OUT $1,871,491
Cash IN (2023) $22,130,230
Cash OUT (2023) $10,169,733
Cash on Hand $11,960,457
BARBARA LEE (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $1,052,634
Cash OUT $1,129,575
Cash IN (2023) $3,390,204
Cash OUT (2023) $2,066,329
Cash on Hand $1,323,875
LEXI REESE (D)—July 1-Sept. 30
Cash IN $715,144
Cash OUT $658,116
Cash IN (2023) $1,817,201
Cash OUT (2023) $1,134,723
Cash on Hand $682,478
PRICE RECALL
—RECALL KICKOFF—The signature gathering phase of the campaign to recall Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price kicked off on Sunday.
—Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE), the group leading the recall effort, needs more than 73,000 valid signatures from registered voters in order to qualify for a special election some time next year.
—Last week, SAFE said they received 1,900 request to help with the petition drive. They also plan to use paid signature-gatherers, a costly expenditure that may require $2 million in fundraising, SAFE told KPIX.
—SAFE BET?—It remains unclear how successful SAFE and a separate Independent Expenditure Committee named Reviving the Bay Area has been in raising money for the recall effort.
—However, there was a $10,000 contribution made to SAFE on Aug. 29, according to a finance report filed last week. The donor was Peterson Properties, a property management company with apartments in Oakland and the Bay Area.
—GATHERING INFO—I encountered a signature-gatherer in front of the Trader Joe’s in Alameda on Monday afternoon. I wondered if he was working for the DA Price recall and feigned interests in some pumpkins displayed near him.
—He was indeed seeking people to sign the petition to recall Price. “Have you heard of Pamela Price?” he simply asked me and others.
—After I told him I couldn’t sign the petition because of my work as a reporter, I felt bad for him so I signed another petition for microdosing and used the opportunity to asked him about his experiences while approaching people on the subject of Price.
—Very little information is required to get people to sign the petition, he told me. Just mentioning Price’s name is all that’s needed to get a signature, he said.
—About 70-30 in terms of those supporting the recall versus those opposing the recall, he said, although he added, “I’m not going to lie, some people really like her.”
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—TEACHABLE MOMENT—How do you get around campaign finance limits in a school board race? You find a middle man. A political action committee formed by the California Teachers Association contributed $2,000 to the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee on Monday, according to a finance report.
—The teachers union donation is likely intended for supporting Sasha Ritzie Hernandez, their endorsed candidate in next month’s Oakland Unified School District special election in District 5.
—Hernandez is also endorsed by the Alameda County Democratic Party, who can then put the money to good use, perhaps with a mailer or text messaging to voters.