Councilmember Kevin de León is facing a tough reelection campaign in Sacramento’s Council District 14 due to his involvement in a racist leaked audio scandal two years ago. To boost his image, he is using his state campaign war chest to fund self-promoting ads advocating for three ballot measures. While De León cannot transfer money directly from his state committee to his city reelection campaign committee, he can roll the funds into other political cause committees, which he has done.
De León’s tactics are not new, as many politicians have utilized spending on ballot measure campaigns to increase their visibility in the past. He has transferred $600,000 to the Kevin de León Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee, which supports Proposition 3, Proposition 32, and Proposition 33. This type of spending is legal under California law, but it raises ethical concerns about the use of campaign funds for personal promotion.
California Common Cause advocates for more restrictions on how candidate-controlled ballot measure committees can spend their money, such as ensuring a larger portion of the ad promotes the issue rather than the candidate. The organization also suggests requiring donor permission before transferring funds to a ballot measure campaign committee.
Ultimately, the use of campaign funds in this manner may be legal, but it undermines public trust in politicians. State lawmakers and the Fair Political Practices Commission should explore ways to ensure a fair and transparent election process, where candidates compete on an even playing field.
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