WHEREAS the influence of wealthy donors and special interests has grown dramatically, with over $1 billion spent on California state candidate campaigns since 2020, creating barriers for working-class candidates, educators, small business owners, and community leaders who lack access to large donations;

WHEREAS five charter cities (Berkeley, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco) have public financing systems to amplify the voices of everyday voters and provide candidates with a viable alternative fundraising method not reliant on wealthy donors or special interests;

WHEREAS a current ban prohibits public financing programs in California jurisdictions other than charter cities, preventing voters in counties, districts, general law cities, and the state from enacting public financing programs; and

WHEREAS the California Fair Elections Act aims to remove the current prohibition of public financing of campaigns while establishing basic requirements that public financing systems and candidates using public funding must follow to protect taxpayers and maximize the benefit to voters;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee strongly supports the California Fair Elections Act and urges all Californians to vote yes on this measure in November 2026 to empower every jurisdiction in California to make elections about ideas – not money!

Adopted 6/10/2026