This message confirms that independent expenditures totaling more than $30,000 now have been made by an independent committee in the race for City Council District 5, in addition to City Council District 3 and 7 as reported in our last campaign advisory.
Per the Oakland Campaign Reform Act and Limited Public Financing Act, this means that the local campaign expenditure ceilings no longer apply to any candidate seeking election to the following offices:
- City Council District 3
- City Council District 5
- City Council District 7
This is because either independent expenditures totaling more than $30,000 have been made by an independent committee in the races for City Council Districts 3, 5, and 7 or a candidate in City Council Districts 3, 5, and 7 who did not accept the voluntary expenditure limits has received contributions or made qualified campaign expenditures equal to fifty percent or more of the $150,000 limit (O.M.C. 3.13.070(E)).
Candidates for City Council Districts 3, 5, and 7 are therefore able to spend money over the expenditure ceiling. Please note that, for all other election contests, expenditure ceilings for candidates that accepted the voluntary expenditure limits remain in effect.
Please also note that expenditure ceilings are not to be confused with contribution limits which continue as follows:
- Candidates for the 2024 election may continue to raise money at $600 per individual contributor and $1,200 per qualified broad-based political committee.
If you have any questions about these rules or their effect, please do not hesitate to contact us at ethicscommission@oaklandca.gov.