The latest campaign finance reports show 14 PACs making direct donations to candidates, and a second independent expenditure committee jumping into the campaign.
Independent Expenditures
Reports for the latest reporting period show the Santa Clara Police Association PAC making its first independent expenditures of the campaign on Oct. 19: $25,000 in mailers and digital ads supporting four candidates: David Kertes, Kathy Watanabe, Yvonne Inciarte and Kyle Madej. This is the first report the PAC has submitted since July.
The expenditures were paid for in part by contributions from Gary Filizetti, president of Devcon Construction ($10,000), Laurence McColloch ($1,500), a past city council candidate. The remainder of the money came from member dues.
The 49ers’ two Affordable Santa Clara PACs’ spending juggernaut grew to $1.7 million, with the lion’s share of the spending going to TV and internet ads. They have spent no money on ads opposing Kertes. The 49ers have poured $2.8 million into the two PACs.
Direct PAC Donations to Candidates
Madej received the largest amount of money from PACs ($4,940), while he and Watanabe tied for the largest number of PAC donations, seven. Karen Hardy, Kevin Park, Mike Wiltberger and Eric Crutchlow reported no PAC contributions. The 49ers committees made no direct contributions to candidates.
- AFSCME Local 101 PAC ($1,520): Gary Ferraris $760, Madej $760
- AFSCME Council 57 PAC ($1,520): Ferraris $760, Madej $760
- American4Hindus-CA-All Purpose ($380): Watanabe $380
- BAYMEC ($750): Kertes $750
- Build Jobs PAC ($300): Watanabe $300
- California Apartment Association PAC ($380): Watanabe $380
- California Real Estate PAC, CREPAC ($1,140): Williams $760, Watanabe $380
- IBEW Local 332 ($350): Inciarte $350
- Santa Clara Firefighters Local 1171 PAC ($1,520): Kyle Madej $760, Yvonne Inciarte $380, Kimberley Williams $380
- Santa Clara Police Association PAC ($2,280): David Kertes $760, Kyle Madej $760, Yvonne Inciarte $380, Kathy Watanabe $380
- Peace Officers Research Association of California, PORAC ($2,280): Kertes $760, Madej $760, Inciarte $380, Watanabe $380
- Plumbers Local 393 Political Action Fund ($1,140): Inciarte $380, Madej $380, Watanabe $380
- Santa Clara County Association of Realtors ($760): Madej $760
- Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Construction Trades Council PAC ($760): Ferraris $760
The largest donors to the California Apartment Association include Essex Property Trust, Inc. ($3,311,000), and Prometheus ($654,000).
Data as of 10/29/26.
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