See who’s spending the most in Berkeley elections

Your mail carrier could already tell you this, but campaign finance records make clear just how much spending by local campaigns has ramped up in recent weeks.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest and most notable spenders:

Campaign to defeat natural gas tax tops fundraising for measures

The effort to pass a landlord-backed overhaul of rent regulations, Measure CC, spent more than any other campaign for or against the 12 measures on this year’s Berkeley ballot as of the latest reporting deadline.

But that could change after business interests poured money into the effort to defeat Measure GG, a proposal to tax the use of natural gas in large buildings.

The “No” campaign reported taking in $239,785 during the most recent period, which ran from Sept. 22 to Oct. 19, for a total fundraising haul of $370,840. That’s the most raised by any of the measure campaigns. The money the “No” campaign raised just in the four-week reporting period is more than double the $95,335 raised by the “Yes” side over its entire campaign.

The National Association of Realtors — which has also spent nearly $200,000 on the effort to pass Measure CC — was the biggest contributor to the No on GG campaign in the latest fundraising period, giving the group $100,000 on Oct. 8. Commercial builder Wareham Development gave the campaign $58,500, while the political arm of the Bay Area Council, the regional business lobby, chipped in $30,000.

That’s allowed the campaign to spend just over $275,000 as of the filing deadline, much of which has gone toward advertising and literature.

Business groups have provided the financial muscle for the campaign to block the measure, while the No side also counts endorsements from well-known local brands like Boichik Bagels, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Berkeley Bowl, all of whom argue it will harm businesses and nonprofits. The measure’s supporters — which include environmental and progressive advocacy groups such as 350 Bay Area, Sunrise Movement Bay Area and the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club of the East Bay — say the tax will help push the city to end the use of climate-warming energy sources.

Arreguín tops $1M in spending, with help from controversial donor network

Mayor Jesse Arreguín has outspent AC Transit Director Jovanka Beckles more than 5-to-1 in their race for a coveted East Bay state Senate seat.

Arreguín’s campaign spent just over $1.1 million from the start of the year through Oct. 19, compared to about $210,000 spent by Beckles’ over the same time period. He kept raising far more money than Beckles as he continued to draw support in the latest filing period from major businesses and their advocates — including the Ford Motor Company and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. — as well as unions in the construction trades.

Beckles, a self-described “corporate-free candidate” whose major donors in the latest period included the Oakland-based Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and Progressive Era PAC, has criticized the support Arreguín draws from business interests.

Arreguín has also received money from the controversial political advocacy network Govern for California, the project of a Stanford University lecturer who has criticized the state’s pension liabilities and the political sway of public-sector unions. A CalMatters investigation of Govern for California in 2022 found its closely linked chapters routinely donate to the same candidates, which critics charge is a tactic to get around campaign contribution limits. The Fair Political Practices Commission, California’s election watchdog, launched a review of the group after CalMatters’ investigation; spokesman Jay Wierenga said this week that the inquiry has not been concluded.

Campaign disclosures show Arreguín has received $29,100 in total from 10 Govern for California chapters, which have different names — such as the “East Bay Chapter,” “Santa Cruz Chapter” and “Sierra Chapter” — but are all based in San Rafael.

Arreguín’s campaign did not respond to questions about the donations from Govern from California, which also did not respond to an inquiry.

Hahn, O’Keefe lead spending for city races

Councilmember Sophie Hahn built a fundraising advantage over Councilmember Kate Harrison and nonprofit consultant Adena Ishii during the race for mayor, and has put it to use in recent weeks.

Hahn reported spending $108,667 in the four-week reporting period, far surpassing the $39,060 spent by Ishii and the $33,502 spent by Harrison over the same time period. The gap is less dramatic over the entire year, as Hahn spent about $160,000 as of Oct. 19, compared to just over $140,000 by Harrison and Ishii. But Hahn also ended the period with over $60,000 still left in the bank, while Ishii and Harrison had under $40,000.

Harrison and Ishii are participating in Berkeley’s public financing program, but Hahn is not — a point Harrison has criticized her for. That means Hahn can accept donations of up to $270; contributions to Harrison and Ishii are capped at $60, though the program provides a 6-to-1 match for donations from Berkeley residents.

Shoshana O'Keefe, a member of the Zoning Adjustments Board running to replace Hahn in City Council District 5, has posted the highest spending total so far among council candidates, shelling out $50,930 as of Oct. 19. Her campaign's spending far outpaces that of her two rivals for the North Berkeley seat: Solano Avenue Business Improvement District Advisory Board chair Todd Andrew has spent $13,207, while nonprofit founder Nilang Gor has chosen not to raise or spend any money on his campaign.

But it's the race for District 6, which covers the Berkeley Hills, that has proven the most expensive of the four council campaigns. The effort to elect Brent Blackaby, the co-founder of an online privacy company, spent $49,165 as of the filing deadline, while that of East Bay Municipal Utility District Director Andy Katz spent $24,859.

Meanwhile, spending in the race for South Berkeley's District 3 has been neck and neck between incumbent Councilmember Ben Bartlett and realtor Deborah Matthews, each of whom has spent just under $18,000. Planning Commissioner John "Chip" Moore has spent $8,456 on his campaign.

And in Southwest Berkeley's District 2, incumbent Councilmember Terry Taplin has a large spending edge over challenger Jenny Guarino, who has spent $7,495 to his $39,864.