Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire after a campaign advertisement revealed that donations to her re‑election effort are amplified by a city‑run matching program. The ad, posted to the mayor’s campaign X account, explained that the “super‑match” program multiplies each qualified contribution from a Los Angeles resident six times with city funds.
In the video, Bass said a $5 donation becomes a $35 contribution and a $25 donation turns into $175 after the match. She urged supporters to give quickly, noting that the city’s matching program had to be restarted after the primary election.
Program background and legal status
The matching system has been available to qualified mayoral candidates since 1990 and was expanded to the current 6‑to‑1 ratio in 2019. To qualify, a candidate must have already raised 300 times the maximum matchable amount per contributor ($257), have at least 100 donors who gave $5 or more and reside in Los Angeles, face an opponent, and hold at least one public town hall or debate. All matched donations must come from Angelenos.
Qualified candidates submit a statement of acceptance of matching funds as part of the city’s campaign rules. The maximum matchable contribution is $257, which becomes $1,799 after the city’s match. The overall cap on matched donations for the general election is just over $1.5 million.
Local reaction
Republican Party of Los Angeles County chairwoman Roxanne Hoge called the arrangement “a system they set up to enrich themselves and their friends and get themselves elected,” likening it to a child who makes the rules of a game. She added that the program is “perfectly legal,” but expressed frustration that “almost none of the money that Los Angeles takes in is used for things that make sense,” citing homelessness as an example.
Critics on social media and local commentators also voiced concern. University of Austin professor Michael Shellenberger described the practice as “grotesque,” while former Reagan administration official David McIntosh asked, “The current Mayor of the City of LA, who is running for reelection, is allowed to take money from the city to fund her campaign at a 6‑to‑1 payout???” Los Angeles activist Tony Moon responded sarcastically, calling the arrangement “so innovative, I’m sure this is totally legit and not communist at all.”
Legal perspective
City officials maintain that the matching program complies with California election law. The program is codified in municipal regulations and has been used by mayoral candidates for decades. No court challenges to the program have been reported, and the city has not indicated any intention to change the rule before the upcoming runoff election.
Impact on the upcoming runoff
Bass faces a November runoff against a candidate identified in campaign filings as a “Mamdani‑style socialist.” The heightened scrutiny of the matching program adds a new dimension to the race, as voters consider how public resources are being allocated during a municipal election.
The mayor’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
