Election Corner: Local Campaign Finance

Learn more about the November 3, 2020 Municipal Election. Take a deep dive into new local campaign finance regulations and how they pertain to the current election cycle.

In February 2020, the City Council adopted an ordinance placing mandatory limits on campaign contributions made to City Council candidates and setting voluntary overall expenditure limits on City Council candidate campaigns. The ordinance was designed to allow City Council candidates to spend less of their time on fundraising, and more of their time communicating on issues of importance to voters and constituents. View the ordinance here.

The ordinance limits the amount that an individual or organization can contribute to a City Council campaign to $1,000 in total aggregate contributions. All candidates running for City Council are required to adhere to this limit. The ordinance imposes penalties for those who do not comply.

The ordinance also sets voluntary expenditure limits — or spending limits. The amount each candidate is limited to spending is based on the respective district in which each candidate is running. These limits are determined by the population of residents in each district, based on 2010 census data. Each candidate is allowed to spend a total of $2.25 per resident in the district. Candidates may choose to opt-in to the voluntary spending limits, and in so choosing, are allowed to publish an additional 400-word candidate statement on the City’s election webpage.

To find out who opted into these limits, and to read their 400-word candidate statements, visit the Redwood City Campaign Finance page.

Campaign contributions and expenditures are a matter of public interest and all candidates are required to submit regular campaign finance reports in accordance with state law.

To review the campaign finance reports for local City Council candidates, visit the Candidate Information page. To learn more about state reporting laws or for general inquiries about campaign finance in California, visit the Fair Political Practices Commission website.

For more about the 2020 Municipal Election, go here.

For more information about the City’s election districts, go here.