While two local state Assembly candidates are building up their finances, special interests have been pouring money in behind the scenes.
Special interest groups have doled out thousands to back Patrick Ahrens , a Foothill-De Anza Community College District trustee, and Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Tara Sreekrishnan in their race for state Assembly District 26 . Uber and a political action committee mostly funded by PG&E have put a total $492,899 behind Ahrens, while unions and climate groups have spent a combined $220,402 to support Sreekrishnan.
Candidates and their committees legally cannot coordinate with super PACs , nor can super PACs directly donate to a candidate’s committee. But they have no limit on how much they can independently spend to support or oppose candidates or measures. PACs are normally limited to $5,500 per election if donating directly to an Assembly candidate, according to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission .
So far, Uber Innovation Political Action Committee has spent almost $350,000 to support Ahrens — the most of any super PAC in this race. The committee is funded by the San Francisco-based rideshare company Uber.
The second super PAC supporting Ahrens — the Golden State Leadership Fund PAC — has spent $143,322, all ahead of the March primary elections. Its biggest donors are PG&E and East West Bank. The committee’s federal counterpart has also been spending thousands to support Ahrens’ boss, current District 26 Assemblymember Evan Low , in his run for Congressional District 16.
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Ahrens said he can’t reject or return the money, since it hasn’t been donated directly to him.
“When I am elected to the state Assembly, I will work to limit special interest money in our elections,” Ahrens told San José Spotlight. “The outsized role special interests play in our elections is another example of a radical U.S. Supreme Court decision wreaking havoc on our democracy via Citizens United.”
Sreekrishnan has a slate of committees that have spent to support her, with the most money coming from the Fund Her PAC, which supports women in legislatures nationwide and spent $55,000 in the primaries on digital advertising. Valley Neighbors Together also spent $55,000 to support Sreekrishnan, and that committee’s top donors are the American Beverage Association California and Operating Engineers Local 3.
Other unions such as the SEIU California State Council and California School Employees Association have spent tens of thousands to support Sreekrishnan’s campaign. She said she’s proud to have their support.
“Right-wing Sacramento special interests are funding PG&E Patrick’s campaign because he pushed their agenda of price hikes and tax loopholes for the wealthy in Sacramento and he’ll do it again if elected,” Sreekrishnan told San José Spotlight. “I’m proud to be the choice of working people — nurses, educators, caregivers — and will always stand up to the special interests making life worse and less affordable for all of us.”
More money is being prepared ahead of Election Day. The California Realtors Association put $275,000 into a committee to support Ahrens and oppose Sreekrishnan. The California Apartment Association put $250,000 into that same committee, which is now armed with $555,000 ahead of the election.
Another committee supporting Ahrens has $621,000 at its disposal, with funds coming from the California Medical Association, DaVita Patient Protection Committee, the California Dental Association and Uber’s PAC.
On the other side, a committee supporting Sreekrishnan has $475,000 ready. Major donors are the Women In Power PAC, California Nurses Association, other labor groups including SEIU and Smart Justice California Action Fund, a group funded by four philanthropists who have historically pushed for reforms in the justice system.
The election will take place Nov. 5.
Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at sakura@sanjosespotlight.com or @SakuCannestra on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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