The race for Santa Clara County’s most powerful governing body has candidates pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars to represent San Jose and the West Valley on the Board of Supervisors.
While District 2 candidate Madison Nguyen has raised more money than Betty Duong since February — pulling in $205,000 in contributions to Duong’s $140,000 — their totals over the whole election cycle are nearly equal.
Nguyen, a pro-business former San Jose councilmember and vice mayor, has netted more than $452,000 in total, namely from business owners and business interest groups, such as the Silicon Valley Biz PAC. Duong, a pro-labor candidate who is chief of staff for District 2 Supervisor Cindy Chavez, has raised a total of nearly $412,000, with recent donations from construction and law enforcement unions.
“The latest fundraising report reflects the continued support for our campaign,” Nguyen told San José Spotlight. “Residents from a diverse range of outlooks and backgrounds are lining up behind us on our message of change. We couldn’t be more excited having this momentum going into the final part of the campaign.”
Money is also flowing to both candidates — who hope to become the county’s first Vietnamese American to hold a board seat — from doctors, business owners and public sector employees in the Vietnamese community.
“I am incredibly proud of our campaign for reaching this significant fundraising milestone. This achievement is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the collective efforts of our diverse supporters — young people, women, the Latino and Vietnamese communities, working families, firefighters, nurses and everyone in between,” Duong told San José Spotlight. “With this momentum, we are saying loud and clear: we are shaping a brighter future where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.”
The fundraising gap is much wider in the race to represent the wealthier West Valley cities of District 5.
Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, close with established local political circles and groups like the California Apartment Association, has raised $115,000 in contributions and $58,000 in loans since February — bringing her total fundraising to $470,000.
Abe-Koga’s biggest recent donors include law enforcement, firefighter, health care worker and trade unions, as well as Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.
Compare that to California Board of Equalization Member Sally Lieber, who pulled in $23,000 in the latest fundraising cycle — bringing her total to $187,000 over the course of her campaign.
Lieber — who is backed by groups including the South Bay Progressive Alliance and Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America — also earned recent contributions from health care workers and trade unions, and from groups pushing progressive causes such as the Progressive Alliance and California Women’s List.
“My opponent had significant help from the California Apartment Association in the primary. I expect that she’ll have that again,” Lieber told San José Spotlight.
Lieber said the landlord group highlights key policy differences between her and her opponent.
“I spent a record low amount of money in the primary and still got into the top two and I expect to do well in November,” Lieber said. “I’m looking forward to November. The political landscape has obviously changed with the presidential race. I think there’s going to be great turnout in every part of Santa Clara County.”
Abe-Koga agrees the campaign finance numbers highlight a difference.
“I continue to be honored and humbled by the outpour of support I’ve been receiving since the primary election,” she told San José Spotlight. “Unlike my opponent who is nearly fully self funded, I am the only candidate in this race with a strong coalition of diverse and broad based community support, and it is reflected in the over 500 local residents and organizations that have contributed to my campaign.”
The candidates are putting their war chests to use.
Nguyen has spent $81,000 since February on mailers, office expenses, meetings and appearances, leaving an ending balance of $186,000. She’s used a total of $265,000 over the course of her campaign. And while Nguyen has raised more than her opponent, Duong has Nguyen outspent. Duong has shelled out $319,000 over the course of her campaign. In the most recent fundraising cycle, she spent nearly $94,000 on print ads, radio airtime and office expenses — leaving $94,000 in her campaign account.
Abe-Koga has spent $112,000 since February on texting surveys, phone banks and consultants, leaving an ending balance of $118,000 and bringing her total spending to $358,000. Lieber, meanwhile, has spent nearly $15,000 in the most recent cycle on IT costs, office expenses and mailers, leaving a balance of $121,000 and bringing her total spending to nearly $62,000.
