Money Pours Into San Jose Council Runoffs, With Front-Runners Holding Fundraising Leads in All Three Races

Fundraising has picked up in San Jose's three contested City Council races since the June primary, and in each one the candidate who finished first is still ahead in the money race.

Candidates raised roughly $240,000 in direct contributions between July 1 and Sept. 19, nearly a third of everything raised since campaigning began last year, San José Spotlight reports from the latest filings. The runoffs in Districts 5, 7 and 9 will be decided Nov. 3.

District 9: an open seat

Vice Mayor Pam Foley is terming out of the southwest San Jose district that includes Willow Glen, Hillsdale and Cambrian Park. Marriage and family therapist Genny Altwer, who won 35.5% in June, has raised $183,216 overall, including a $15,000 loan to herself. Public Works employee Gordon Chester, who took 22.2%, has raised $54,775, close to double his July total, plus a $4,000 personal loan. Chester told the Spotlight that 66% of his contributions since July were $100 or less. Altwer has endorsements from Mayor Matt Mahan, Rep. Sam Liccardo and Foley, the Spotlight reported earlier.

District 7: a fierce rematch of sorts

Incumbent Bien Doan, who won 47.8% in the primary, has raised $189,884, including a $20,000 loan. East Side Union High School District trustee Van Le, who took 22.4%, has raised $119,286 and lent her campaign $30,000. A business-aligned PAC, the California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses, has spent more than $150,000 supporting Doan. The district covers parts of central and East San Jose and has not reelected an incumbent to a second term in more than a decade.

District 5: labor money backs the incumbent

Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who led the June field with 44.9%, has raised $222,060. Former councilmember and Assemblymember Nora Campos, seeking a rematch after losing the seat in 2022, has raised $100,572, about 40% of it in the last three months. A committee backed by the South Bay Labor Council has spent more than $143,000 for Ortiz. Campos says voters are frustrated with housing costs, crime and blight, while Ortiz points to his record on public safety, immigrant protections and economic investment.

Outside spending is reported separately from direct donations, so the totals above don't capture everything being spent to sway voters before Election Day.