Resolution in Support of the California Fair Elections Act — SB 42 (Umberg-Allen-Cervantes-Lee)

WHEREAS, many Californians are rightly concerned they lack a full voice in elections because  their small contributions can’t compete with big secret money from wealthy interests;

WHEREAS, five charter cities — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, and Long  Beach — have adopted public financing systems that amplify the voices of everyday voters  and provide candidates with an alternative fundraising system to relying on wealthy donors, but  such systems are banned everywhere but charter cities in California; and

WHEREAS, the California Democratic Platform says California Democrats will “Support and  encourage the implementation of legislation for full public financing of election campaigns at  the local, state, and federal levels”;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic Party supports SB 42  (Umberg-Allen-Cervantes-Lee), which will put the California Fair Elections Act on the  November 2026 ballot 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, such as requiring  that candidates abide by expenditure limits and meet strict criteria to qualify for public funds.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be provided to the  Governor, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire, Senate  Elections Committee Chair Sabrina Cervantes, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Anna  Caballero, Assembly Elections Committee Chair Gail Pellerin, Assembly Appropriations  Committee Chair Buffy Wicks, Senator Tom Umberg, and to our area’s members of the  California Legislature.

Resolution adopted by the Sonoma County Democratic Party on April 8, 2025

The Sonoma County Democratic Party (SCDP / Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee) is the official governing body  of
the Democratic Party in Sonoma County. The SCDP works in cooperation with the  
California Democratic Party (CDP) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).  
Public meetings of the Sonoma County Democratic Party are open to all registered Democrats. 

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