Two San Francisco 49ers independent expenditure committees have put roughly $2.6 million into PACs for Santa Clara’s election, dwarfing the combined $138,700 raised through loans and donations by candidates themselves. (Numbers are rounded). The 49ers PACs have spent about $1.3 million far.
Independent Expenditures
Two PACs have been funded by the 49ers: “Affordable Santa Clara Supporting Ferraris and Opposing Watanabe and Kertes for Mayor 2026” ($1.87 million) and “Affordable Santa Clara Supporting Williams and Opposing Inciarte for City Council 2026” ($753,000). Of that, $886,700 has been spent in the mayor’s race and $385,000 in the District 2 council race. The bulk of the spending is in TV ads.
The police union and Related Santa Clara have not reported any spending. The police PAC has received no donations beyond union dues.
Self-Funded Campaigns
This year candidates overall lent more money to their own campaigns than they have received from donors. Candidates’ loans to their campaigns are 30% higher than the contributions they’ve received: $84,100 compared to $54,000 in cash and in-kind donations. All of the candidates except Yvonne Inciarte have made loans to their own campaigns.
Mayoral Candidates
Over $10K
The largest war chest in this election so far is David Kertes, with a total $41,900, $39,500 of which is self-loans. His biggest expenditure is for digital and print advertising,
Second is Kathy Watanabe with $19,500, with $7,500 in loans to her campaign. Watanabe’s biggest expenditure is for a political consulting firm.
Next is Mike Wiltberger, whose campaign is entirely self-funded, with $15,800. His biggest expenditure is for aerial and billboard advertising.
Under $10K
Gary Ferraris has received $5,100 in donations and has loaned his campaign $3,000, making a total of $8,000. Ferraris’ donors include AFSCME Local 101 PAC, AFSCME Council 57 PAC, Council 57, an AFSCME union representative, Santa Clara County employees’ union and a principal labor relations representative. Many of his other donors are city employees. Ferraris’ biggest expenditure is for lawn signs, literature and digital advertising.
Karen Hardy’s loans and donations are about equal: $5,000 in loans and $5,500 in donations. Her largest expenditure to date is $1,600 for her campaign kickoff.
Kevin Park has received $3,400 in donations, plus a $2,100 self-loan, making $5,500 total. His largest expenditure was $2,000 to the City of Santa Clara for his ballot statement.
Council Candidates
In District 3, Eric Crutchlow has received $2,300 in donations and has loaned his campaign $2,000. Crutchlow’s largest spending category is campaign materials and website.
His opponent Kyle Madej has raised $3,700 in donations and has loaned his campaign $6,200, totaling $9,800. His biggest expenditure is on lawn signs and doorhangers.
District 2 council candidate Yvonne Inciarte has raised the most, $15,700, in donations and no loans. Her biggest expenditure is for campaign materials.
Kimberley Williams, Inciarte’s opponent, has raised $2,900 in donations and loaned her campaign $3,100, adding up to $5,900. Her largest expenditure is yard signs.
Notable Donors/Donations:
- Gary Filizetti, president of Devcon Construction, donated to Kertes, Inciarte and Madej.
- Inciarte’s donor list shows that nearly 2/3 of her itemized donations come from outside Santa Clara. Eleven donors list their employer as “Unemployed.” Kertes, Madej and Watanabe each contributed to Inciarte. Inciarte also received a donation from Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga.
- Suds Jain gave to four candidates: Ferraris, Hardy, Williams and Crutchlow.
- Susan Ellenberg donated to both Inciarte and Williams, but listed as a San José Unified Trustee on Inciarte’s report (Ellenberg left that board eight years ago).
- Watanabe’s treasurer accepted two $500 donations, but because Watanabe didn’t accept voluntary spending limits, she’s limited to a maximum donation of $380. The current report shows a refund paid to one donor. Her reports also show two donations that appear to be from the same person (a Claremont College student) totaling $743.43; one on July 5 for $376.01 and the second on July 8 for $367.42. There are several $376.01 donations to Watanabe.
More information about how to follow political money: How to Follow the Money Peeling the Campaign Spending Onion
Candidate disclosures are as of the most current reporting deadline, Sept. 24. Independent expenditure committee disclosures are current as of Oct. 8.
Disclosure: The 49ers PACs and candidate David Kertes have bought advertising from Silicon Valley Voice.