Follow the Money: Ballot Measures Elections 2024

By Staff on September 24, 2024

FOLLOW THE MONEY: Groups Backing the Statewide Ballot Measures

Candidates in any given election get much media attention, but the ballot measures often go unnoticed. “A ballot measure is a piece of proposed legislation to be approved or rejected by eligible voters,” explains the League of Women Voters website. “In California, a ballot proposition can be a referendum or an initiative measure that is submitted to the electorate for a direct decision or direct vote. Measures can be placed on the ballot either by the California State Legislature or via a petition signed by registered voters.” Ballot measures are an important part of our democratic process, yet they are often not understood by voters because of jargon and targeted deceptive advertising. Millions of dollars are spent on ballot measures in CA, and this money can become a source of information in figuring out which groups want this to happen, hopefully revealing the actual impacts of the measure.

Groups supporting or opposing measures on the ballot can call themselves anything they want. For instance, a group can get away with saying they are a “coalition of affordable housing advocates, taxpayers, and veterans” when they are really a group of property investors and large apartment complex owners against rent control. Similar deceptive information is allowed in the shiny mailers sent to each home around election time. This is why it is good to follow the money.

Below, each statewide ballot measure is listed, along with the top funders on each side. Also, see Jodi Balma’s report on ballot measures, page 18 in the Early-September issue, available online at fullertonobserver.com under E-Editions or online: https://fullertonobserver.com/2024/09/24/your-ballot-explained-by-a-political-science-professor/. For more information, visit CalMatters.org and the League of Women Voters’ non-partisan recommendations, where they explain each measure at https://lwvc.org/ballot-recommendations/ and attend the League’s local candidate and ballot forums.

NOTES: Major donors of ballot measures for the upcoming November 5, 2024 election year through 9/17/2024, available at cal-access.sos.ca.gov. The 6 or 7-digit numbers are the required numbers given to each committee. Those numbers can be put into the cal-access.sos.ca.gov campaign finance activity section on Props & Ballot measures, and they will take you to the committee page.

PROP 2: BONDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACILITIES

YES on 2: Total reported $3,161,326 funded by

• $1,579,298: Coalition for Adequate School Housing Issues Committee (#980478)

Funded by contributions from Architects, Engineering companies, Construction companies, Trades Contractors, Consultants, Astroturf, and individuals in those fields.

• $1,210,000: Yes on Prop 2 CA for Quality Schools, sponsored by nonprofit Education, Labor & Business (#1473035)

Funded by contributions from:

$1,000,000: CA Building Industry Association Issues Committee
$100,000: Association of School Administrators PAC; CA Alliance for Jobs – Rebuild CA Committee
$10,000 Sheet Metal Workers International Assoc. Local Union #104 Issues Committee

• $363,652: Yes on Prop 2 Community College Facility Coalition Committee (#1220380)

Funded by contributions from:

$100,000: DLR Group
$80,000: NEFF Construction
$60,000: Ledesma & Meyer Construction CO, Inc; Tilden-Coil Constructors Inc;
$50,000: HMC Architects
$10,000: Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes; Cencal Demolition Inc; King Consulting; Roebbelen Contracting Inc; TBP Architecture Inc; and more and smaller amounts from numerous Architects, Construction & Trades industries contractors & consultants

NO: No opposition filings

PROP 3: CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO MARRIAGE

YES on 3: Total reported $2,903,832 funded by

• $582,266: Kevin de Leon Believing in a Better CA #1297793

Funded by Kevin de Leon for Lieutenant Governor 2026;

• $2,321,566: Equality California #1340742

Funded by:

$1,000,000: Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,
$250,000: CA Works Senator Toni Atkins
$250,000: CA Teachers Assoc. Issues PAC
$150,000: CA Federation of Teachers COPE
$150,000: CA Nurses Assoc. PAC
$100,000: ACLU of Northern CA
$100,000: LGBT Cactus Leadership Fund
$75,000: Human Rights Campaign
$50,000: SEIU CA State Council for Working People
$45,900: Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project LA County (nonprofit 501(c)(4) and smaller contributions from individuals

NO: No opposition filings

PROP 4: BONDS FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER, WILDLIFE PROTECTION, PROTECTING FROM CLIMATE RISKS

YES on. 4: Total reported $3,033,611 funded by:

$1,003,636: The Nature Conservancy
$750,000: CA Council of Land Trusts Action Fund
$665,421: Committee for Clean Water, Natural Resources & Parks (#1398230)

Funded by contributions from: CA State Parks Foundation, CA Association of Local Conservation Corps, Save the Redwoods League, and other land trust and park groups.

$500,000: Natural Resources and Parks – Yes on Prop 4, sponsored by a coalition of Environmental Advocates across CA
$375,000: CA Trust for Public Land Action Fund
$334,951: Fund for a Better Future Inc

NO: No opposition filings

PROP 5: BONDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

YES on 5: Total reported $5,748,646 funded by

• $2,500,000: Yes On 5, CA For Safe Affordable Communities #1471670, sponsored by Affordable Housing Advocates, Firefighters, Businesses & Workers

Funded by contributions from: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Advocacy Yes on 5 #1405857

$2,523,646: NPH Action Fund (non-profit (c)(4)
$100,000: CA Alliance for Jobs- Rebuild CA Committee;
$100,000: CA professional Firefighters Ballot Issue Committee
$25,000: The John Stewart Company

NO on 5: Total reported $28,435,866 funded by

•$27,000,000: Homeownership for Families Sponsored by CA Assoc. of Realtors No on 33 (#1400190)

completely funded by the National Association of Realtors and CA Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC

•$33,831: Protect Local Taxpayers

Funded by contributions from: CA Business Roundtable, CCA Business Properties Association PAC, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc., RW Selby & Company Inc and Affiliated Entities, and PMI Properties and Affiliated Entities.

•$1,363,992: Protect Prop 13, a Project of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc. (#931447)

Funded by contributions from realtors, real estate investment companies, property managers, apartment complexes, senior living properties, and other businesses, including Saunders & Saunders, John P Brennan Company LLC, Southern California Builders, and more. The majority of the over 400-page list of contributions was from individuals identifying themselves as “retired”.

PROP 6: ALLOWS INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS

YES on 6: Total reported $726,961 funded by:

$125,961: Yes On 6, End Slavery in CA sponsored by Social Justice & Civil Rights Organizations (#11471645), contributions from:
$47,989: ACLU of Northern CA Issues Committee (#1423278);
$51,390: Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice;
$18,602: Legal Service for Prisoners with Children;
$6,388: Anti Recidivism Coalition;

•$345,000: All of Us or None Action Network Meson Prop 6; (non-profit 501(c)(4)).

Contributions from:

$125,000: Patty Quiillin;
$120,000 Voters Organized to Educate;
$100,000 M. Quinn Delaney

•$256,000: Yes On 6, Ending Modern Day Slavery, sponsored by a Coalition of Civil Rights Organizations (#1471998).

Contributions from:

$125,000: Patty Quillin;
$100,000: Anti Recidivism Coalition;
$80,000: CA African American PAC (#1383298);
$50,000: SEIU CA State Council PAC (#1258324);

NO on 6: No opposition filings

PROP 32: Raises Minimum Wage

YES on 32: Total reported $11,472,683 funded by:

•$582,266: Kevin de Leon Believing in a Better CA Ballot Measure Committee – Yes on 3, 32, 33 (#1297793) funded by:

• $600,000 Kevin De Leon for Lieutenant Governor 2026 (#1412227)

$10,890,417: Working Hero Action. For the Living Wage Act (#1444698) funded by Joseph N. Sanberg

NO on 32: Total reported $70,000 funded by:

• $70,000: CA Against Job Losses & Higher Prices, No on Prop 32. – A Coalition of Small Business, Local Restaurants, & Independent Grocers (#1471141).

Contributions from:

$15,000: CA Grocers Assoc PAC (#1346973);*
$15,000: CA Business PAC sponsored by CA Chamber of Commerce (#761010);
$10,000: National Federation of Independent Business Nashville;
$10,000: CARETAILERS PAC (#1274157);**
$10,000: Western Growers Service Corp (#487001);
$5000: CA Growers Assoc (PAC 1346973);
$5000: CA Restaurant Assoc (PAC 901032)

*CA Grocers Assoc PAC is funded by CA Grocers Assoc 501(C)(6) with $50,000 from Maplebear Inc DBA Instacart

**CARETAILERS is sponsored by the California Retailers Association (which lobbies for the retail industry), representing general merchandise, department stores, mass merchandisers, online markets, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores, chain drug, specialty retail, and energy suppliers. Members include Amazon, Target, Safeway/Albertsons, Raley’s, CVS, Walgreens, JC Penny, Macy’s, GAP, Best Buy, Williams Sonoma, and more.

PROP 33: EXPANDS LOCAL AUTHORITY TO ENACT RESIDENTIAL RENT CONTROL

YES on 33: Total reported $31,556,139 funded by:

•$582,266: Kevin de Leon Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee – Yes on 3, 32, 33 (#1297793) funded by Kevin de Leon for Lieutenant Governor 2026 (#1412227)

•$30,973,873: Renters & Homeowners for Rent Control, Yes on 33, sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (#1458912) funding from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and smaller amounts from individuals

NO on 33: Total reported $87,324,615 funded by:

• $27,000,000: Homeownership for Families sponsored by CA Assoc. of Realtors No on 33. (#1400190).

Contributions from:

$22 Million: CA Association of Realtors and CA Assoc. of Realtors Mobilization (PAC#782560)
$5 Million: National Association of Realtors

• $34,500,250: Californians for Responsible Housing: a Bi-Partisan Coalition of Affordable Housing. Advocates, Taxpayers, Veterans, & Small Businesses sponsored by CA Apartment Assoc. (PAC#1421884).

Contributions from:

$34,450,000: CA Apartment Assoc Issues Committee (PAC #1388537)
$36,000: George W. Lattimer
$14,250: Burnett Apartments LLC & Affiliated Entities (John Lavrich)
And numerous smaller contributions from individuals connected to real estate investments.

• $3,823,865: Californians to Protect Affordable Housing – A Coalition of Housing Advocates, Renters, Businesses, Taxpayers & Veterans (#1462983).

Contributions from:

$1,904,000: Michael K. Hayde, Western National Group & Affiliated Entities;*
$645,000: Apartment Association of Greater LA Issues (PAC #1405723);
$400,000: CA for Affordable Housing Sponsored by California Rental Housing Assoc (PAC#1406018);
$300,000: Multi-County Property Rights (PAC #1283587);
$270,000: CA Business Roundtable Issues (PAC #1264590);
$191,950: Gerald J Marcil & Affiliated Entities;**
$175,000: CA for Affordable Housing sponsored by CA Rental Housing Assoc.;
$50,000: HG Fenton Company;
$25,000: New Majority (PAC. #992074)

*Michael Hayde is CEO of Western National Group, a private investment company with over 160 apartment complexes in two states. In Fullerton they operate Courtyard on W. Valencia, Highland Creek on S. Highland, and Kimberly Arms on N. Euclid.

**Gerald J Marcil is a real estate developer, owner of Palos Verdes Investments, and owner of 4000 apartment units in OC and LA County.

$175,000: Californians for Affordable Housing sponsored by CA Rental Housing Assoc. (#1406018)

Contributions from:

$43,375: North Valley Property Owners Assn Inc;
$36,714: Mission Rock Residential;
$32,000: Southern CA Rental Housing (PAC#1468498);
$26,440: VandenBerghe Inc & VandenBerge Properties Inc;
$22,629: Cirrus Asset Management;
$18,280: Berkeley Property Owners Assoc.;
$14,676 UDR Inc;
$11,798 East Bay Rental Housing Assoc. (#1342695);
$10,017 Winn Residential (Haggerty); and numerous contributions by other property, real estate, and investment businesses.

PROP 34: RESTRICTS SPENDING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG REVENUES BY CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

YES on 34: Total reported $29,788,615 funded by:

$29,788,615: Yes on 34, Protect Patients Now: A Coalition of Women, Veterans, LGBTQ+ Advocates, & Patient Groups, sponsored by California Apartment Assoc. (#1462796)
Funded by contributions from:
$29,500,000: CA Apartment Association Issues Committee (#1388537)
$250,000: CA Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization PAC
$38,615: CA Apartment Assoc.

NO on 34: Total reported $1,145,435 funded by:

• $1,145,435: Stop the Revenge Initiative – No on 34, sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (#1469081)

Funded by contributions from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (#1458912)

PROP 35: PROVIDES PERMANENT FUNDING FOR MEDI-CAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

YES on 35: Total reported $48,441,146 funded by:

• $48,230,007: Coalition to protect Access to healthcare, a Coalition of Doctors, Non-Profit. Community Health. Centers, First Responders, Healthcare Workers, Hospitals, and Community Health Plans. (#1462573)

Contributions from:

$15,000,000: CA Hospitals Committee on Issues sponsored by CA Assoc. of Hospitals & Health Systems (#880212)
$13,000,000: Global Medical Response Inc & its subsidiaries
$10,381,545; CA Medical Assoc. Physicians’ Issues Committee (#870983)
$1,000,000: CA Primary Care Assoc. Advocates Committee to Protect Patient Access to Care through Community Health Centers (#1465399)
$1,000,000: CA Dental Assoc.
$1,000,000: Family Health Centers of San Diego
$1,000,000: Altamed Health Services Corp
$1,000,000: Air Methods Corp
$900,000: Community Health Center Network Inc
$900,000: CA. Primary Care Assoc
$510,000: Health Care Partners of Southern CA
$500,000: CEP America LLC (DBA Vitality) & Affiliated Entities
$550,000: Innercare
And contributions of smaller amounts from other healthcare providers
$211,139: Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County – Yes on Prop 5 (non-profit (501(c)(4))

NO: No opposition filings

PROP 36: ALLOWS FELONY CHARGES & INCREASES SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN DRUG & THEFT CRIMES

YES on 36: Total reported $11,473,111 funded by:

• $11,473,111: Yes on Prop 36 – CA for Safer Communities sponsored by Golden State Communities

Contributions from:

$4,083,840: Walmart Inc
$1,000,000: Home Depot USA Inc
$1,000,000: Target Corp; In-N-Out. Burgers; Taylor Fresh Foods Inc;
$500,000: CA Business Roundtable PAC #1264590;
$300,000: 7-Eleven; CA Correctional Peace Officers Assoc. Truth in American Government Fund (non-profit 501(c)(5) #1302403
$250,000: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians;
$200,000: Macy’s Inc; William Oberndorf Enterprises LLC;
$150,000; United Auburn Indian Community of Auburn Rancheria; Franchise Owners Assoc. SoCal; Franchise Owners Assoc. Southern CA;
$100,000: Stater Bros. Holdings Inc; ULTA Inc, Illinois; Susan Groff (owner Northwest Escavating); Joe Saraceno 7-Eleven Franchisee Owners Assoc.; 7-Eleven Franchisee’s PAC#1222119; Raley’s; River Park Properties II; Super Center Concepts Inc dba Superior Grocers;
$85,000: West Coast Franchisee Owners Association LLC; CA Business Properties Assoc PAC #1244001;
$75,000: SF. Police Officers Assoc. PAC#1317554; 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association San Diego;
$60,000: American Bail Coalition; SF- Monterey Bays Franchisee Owners Assoc.;
$50,000: Kilroy Realty LP; Table Mountain Rancheria; Allied Universal;
$45,000: American Petroleum & Convenience Store Assoc. Inc;
$35,000: Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation; Greater Bay Franchise Owners Assoc
$30,000: Walgreens Family of Companies; And contributions of smaller amounts from Real Estate Investment, Development, Large Property Owner Groups, Construction, Police Officers Assoc., Deputy DA PAC, Grocery, Pharmacy, various other businesses, and several politicians.