FPPC Details Gubernatorial Independent Expenditure Spending

Over $13 million spent on Brown's behalf

As the second half of an examination of spending in the 2010 gubernatorial race, the Fair Political Practices Commission, California's campaign finance watchdog, today posted information tracking the Independent Expenditures (IEs) spent on behalf of gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman for the 2010 general election contest.

"Earlier this month we released a report outlining the impact of self-funded candidates on California's campaigns for governor," said FPPC Chairman Dan Schnur. "Now we are looking at the impact Independent Expenditures have had on this year's election. While Whitman's personal spending has provided her campaign with a huge boost, it's clear that Brown's allies have kept the race competitive through their spending on his behalf."

The Commission began tracking IE spending for the gubernatorial general election on June 9, 2010. Since then, 15 committees comprised around unions, membership organizations, social issues and other associations have spent a combined $12,495,794 in efforts to assist Brown in his attempt to win the 2010 gubernatorial general election. Some have chosen to spend their money specifically supporting Brown or opposing Whitman, while others have done both. California Working Families for Jerry Brown 2010, spent over $6.5 million supporting Brown-more than any other committee-while ASFCME AFL-CIO Supporting Jerry Brown for Governor spent $2 million opposing Whitman. Committees designated as "supporting" Brown spent nearly a combined $10.120 million, while those created to "oppose" Whitman, together, spent more than $2.376 million. Total gubernatorial IE spending for the 2010 primary and general elections has so far pushed past $13.188 million.

To date, no independent expenditures have been made supporting Whitman, or opposing Brown.

Last month's FPPC report, Breaking the Bank, identified Meg Whitman as number two of the top-six self-funded candidates since the 1978 gubernatorial primary election, for spending $99,866,607 in the 2010 Republican primary election where she re­ceived a total of 1,529,534 votes, representing a cost of $65.29 per vote.

While there are limits on the amount of contributions candidates can receive from a single source, there are no limits on the amount candidates can personally contribute to their campaign or on how much can be spent on independent expenditures. However, such expenditures must be made completely "independent" of the candidate; no coordination can take place between the candidate, or their campaign, and the entity that makes the independent expenditures.

Groups that make independent expenditures of $10,000 or more, as well as the daily and cumulative totals of independent expenditures made to support or oppose Brown or Whitman are listed on the Commission's website at www.fppc.ca.gov.