Who Wants To Face A Millionaire?
Unknown congressional candidate declares $1 million fundraising haul; Questions mount over Azevedo's residency after he misses another meeting; Dublin moves ahead with moratorium on new gun retailers
☕️MORNING BUZZ
Vol. VI, No. 1,177
—Rakhi Israni’s newly launched primary campaign for the 14th Congressional District reported on Wednesday that it raised more than $1 million in the first 24 hours after announcing her candidacy.
—Verification of the total or the identities of the donors could not be independently verified, as of Wednesday night.
—Even so, the claim could have major implications for a race that may draw as many as 10 candidates, each bringing distinct advantages that could upend assumptions about the June primary.
—Access to $1 million in early campaign cash would immediately propel Israni, a Democrat, into the top tier of the field to replace outgoing Rep. Eric Swalwell in the Hayward, Tri-Valley, and Tri-Cities race.
—Democratic State Sen. Aisha Wahab, widely viewed as the frontrunner, is also expected to benefit from comparable financial support—though much of it is likely to flow through independent expenditure committees rather than her own campaign account.
—Furthermore, the wherewithal of Melissa Hernandez’s campaign to raise significant amount of fundraising has never been tested. Hernandez, also a Democrat, served as a Dublin councilmember and mayor, and now represents the area on the BART Board of Directors.
—The rest of the field of primary candidates do not project to be recipients of major fundraising dollars.
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—More inside:
CITY NEWS: Two Oakland councilmembers raise questions about outsourcing police, city employees to other jurisdictions.
Dublin approves moratorium on permits for new gun retailers while acknowledging potentially thorny Second Amendment issues.
San Leandro councilmember, under federal investigation, hasn’t physically attended a public meeting since Jan. 5.
Tuesday’s Fremont City Council meeting was shorter than the time it takes to fold a load of laundry.
ELECTION 2026: Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign is doing well, but he can’t seem to shake his desire to punk Trump.
Regional half-cent ballot measure gains a citizen-led committee and seed money to begin arduous signature-gathering campaign.
