The San Francisco 49ers have launched a campaign financing effort in Santa Clara, pumping nearly
The San Francisco 49ers have launched a campaign financing effort in Santa Clara, pumping nearly one million dollars into political action committees to influence the outcome of the November 3 municipal elections. San Jose Spotlight reported that the Forty Niners Football Company LLC has poured over 1.2 million dollars into a committee backing mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris while actively opposing rivals Kathy Watanabe and David Kertes.
The Funding Behind Affordable Santa Clara
Campaign finance filings reviewed by SFGATE reveal that the team established political action committees named “Affordable Santa Clara” to target both the mayoral race and the District 2 City Council seat. By late September, the mayoral PAC had collected over 1.2 million dollars in cash contributions and 10,412 dollars in in-kind services. On a single Thursday, the team dropped 645,000 dollars directly into the mayoral committee, with chief legal officer Jihad Beauchman listed as the representative. In the parallel council race, the 49ers added 335,000 dollars to support Kimberley Williams and oppose Yvonne Inciarte. This brings the team’s total August spending to 980,000 dollars, more than two months before voters head to the ballot box.
Mayoral Candidates React to Outside Money
Gary Ferraris, a longtime municipal maintenance worker and labor representative who currently works for Council 57 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, acknowledged that the PAC advertisements help spread his platform. However, Ferraris told San Jose Spotlight that the heavy outside spending hurts his own direct fundraising efforts. His campaign reported raising just 8,006 dollars by late September, which included a 3,000-dollar personal loan.
Other candidates report vastly different campaign treasuries. David Kertes, a senior sales director for North America at Novanta, disclosed 41,896 dollars in total contributions, bolstered by 39,492 dollars in personal loans. Kertes dismissed the impact of the 49ers spending against him, noting to San Jose Spotlight that the team spent roughly one million dollars opposing his 2024 city council run. “Let them spend their money,” Kertes said. “It doesn’t really matter. I’m not worried because I’m doing my work and hitting the pavement.” Kertes reported calling thousands of doors and expressed an intention to work with the team if elected.
Kathy Watanabe, a former city council member termed out in 2024 who frequently voted alongside former mayor Lisa Gillmor against team initiatives, expressed no surprise at the opposition. Watanabe told San Jose Spotlight that she recently spoke with a team representative, requesting they stay out of local politics. According to Watanabe, the representative stated the team would proceed to protect its interests, citing her prior stances on stadium budgets and curfews. The Coalition for Community Engagement recently endorsed Watanabe outside Levi’s Stadium, with founder Edward Escobar criticizing the team’s political footprint by stating the organization feels it can buy anyone.
A Decade of Municipal Political Friction
The 49ers have operated as prominent political actors in Santa Clara since Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014. Previous efforts reached a peak during the 2022 mayoral race, when the franchise spent more than 2.5 million dollars backing Anthony Becker and opposing incumbent Lisa Gillmor. That election cycle ended in a narrow victory for Gillmor and preceded a civil grand jury investigation titled “Unsportsmanlike Conduct.” The grand jury report alleged that pro-team council members governed with a fiduciary duty to the 49ers rather than the city. Despite subsequent scandals and legal fallout, team-backed candidates have secured majorities on the seven-member Santa Clara City Council, leading to the departure of several top municipal officials who clashed with team leadership.
While the 49ers maintain that their political investments target candidates who can foster consensus, manage city finances responsibly, and address housing affordability, critics argue the spending undermines local governance.
