In 2022, Measure W was approved in Oakland to establish Democracy Dollars, aimed at empowering voters by providing campaign vouchers. However, a financial crisis in 2023 led to its indefinite postponement, reverting to a limited public financing program, which now faces elimination in the city budget. Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins' proposed budget cuts all funding for public financing, potentially impacting key upcoming elections. Without intervention, the 2026 election could mark the first absence of public financing in over twenty years, despite strong community support for Measure W. There are proposals to reauthorize limited financing until 2028.
Unless amendments are made to the budget, there will be no public financing in Oakland in 2026, despite Oaklanders voting overwhelmingly to strengthen public financing with the passage of Measure W.
The budget proposed earlier this week by Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins slashes all remaining funding for the Limited Public Financing program, making the 2026 election the first one in over two decades without public financing.
Collection
[
|
...
]