Yes, It’s Legal For L.A. Mayor To Finance Her Re-election Campaign With Taxpayer Dollars

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass can finance her re-election campaign with public funds through a program that uses taxpayer dollars to match eligible campaign contributions.

The “Super Match Program,” overhauled by the L.A. city council in 2019, deems any candidate running for mayor, city attorney, city controller, or city council eligible to participate in the program. Bass advertised the initiative in a video released earlier this week, proudly stating that her campaign is funded “by YOU!”

“Thanks to LA’s Super Match Program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles Residents is matched six to one by the city. If you donate $5, the city turns it into $35…chip in $25 right now, and the city turns it into $175. Make your matching donation today, thank you so much,” she said.

“So we need you to rush your matching donation right now to help fuel this campaign,” she added.

The “Super Match Program” caps donations able to be matched for a mayoral campaign at $257 per contributor and $1,507,000 per candidate for the general election. Bass’ opponent — leftist Nithya Raman, who only secured her spot in the race after late-counted mail-in ballots pushed her ahead of Republican Spencer Pratt in June — is also eligible for the taxpayer-funded donation match.

For the candidate to receive the matching contribution, a contributor certification must be completed that requires the contributor’s name, residence address, job title, and employer. Los Angeles Municipal Code states that if a candidate “knows or should know” that a request for matching funds is based on false information, the candidate can be charged with a misdemeanor and must pay back the matching funds they received. If the candidate is elected, a court could also remove them from office.

Common Cause California says that the program “has led to a wider range of candidates from all backgrounds and perspectives receiving matching funds and running campaigns for citywide and council offices.” The organization adds that the program “has paved the path for a city government that better reflects the diversity of Los Angeles and represents the needs of all Angelenos.”

L.A. isn’t the only city with a Matching Funds Program. New York City matches contributions from city residents at an eight-to-one ratio. New York City created its public funds matching program in 1988 under then-Mayor Ed Koch. In 1988, the funds matched dollar for dollar.

Portland, Oregon, also uses its Small Donor Elections program to match contributions with public funds. Other cities, including Seattle and Oakland, have adopted “Democracy Vouchers,” which do not require residents to donate any of their own money for a candidate to receive public funds. For Seattle’s upcoming city council election, residents in District 5 receive two $50 Democracy Vouchers that can go to the candidate of their choice with no strings attached. 

Raman, Bass’ opponent, has advocated for democracy vouchers to be available in L.A. elections.

“Though democracy vouchers will by no means solve this issue in one fell swoop, they will help create a more equitable campaign finance system that everyone can participate in,” she said. “By making campaign financing accessible to all, the City can boost political engagement, diversify the donor pool, and ensure that candidates and officeholders are more representative of the electorate.”