49ers-backed PAC supports Santa Clara candidate, opposes another

The San Francisco 49ers want to tilt the scales in the team’s favor on the Santa Clara City Council by pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the District 2 race.

Recent campaign finance filings show a political action committee — Affordable Santa Clara Supporting Williams and Opposing Inciarte for City Council 2026, sponsored by Forty Niners Football Company LLC — has received $408,000 in cash contributions from the 49ers, along with $10,411.84 in in-kind services. The PAC has reported at least $270,137 in independent expenditures supporting Kimberley Williams and $25,288 opposing Yvonne Inciarte through Oct. 1. The women are running for the open District 2 seat, with Councilmember Raj Chahal terming out.

The money is independent from Williams’ campaign and can be used for communications such as advertising and mailers. Williams, a university administrator and president of the Santa Clara Schools Foundation, said she did not ask for the team’s backing, nor can she control the spending. She worries the 49ers’ involvement could create the perception that she is tied to the team.

“To me, it’s excessive and somewhat troubling to see that much money being put into this kind of a local election,” Williams told San José Spotlight.

Williams said the outside spending could also make it harder for her to raise money because voters may assume her campaign has access to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Election filings show Williams’ campaign reported $5,938 in total contributions through Sept. 25, including $3,053 in personal loans.

“I do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars at my disposal,” Williams said. “I just finished hand stamping 3,000 postcards. Trust me, I do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars at my house.”

The 49ers did not respond to questions about the District 2 spending, but a team representative previously said their political support is focused on candidates who will address issues that include affordability and the city’s finances. The team is also spending big in the mayoral contest.

“We are proud to once again support a diverse slate of candidates running for city leadership — consensus builders who will tackle the affordability crisis, and manage the city’s finances responsibly while investing in the city’s future,” a 49ers spokesperson previously told San José Spotlight.

Inciarte, a government relations director and former director of intergovernmental strategy for Congressman Ro Khanna, said the 49ers’ involvement shows the team is trying to influence who controls City Hall. She reported $15,709 in total contributions, according to her latest campaign finance filings.

“Honestly, it’s pathetic. The 49ers are spending millions of dollars in a desperate attempt to keep control of City Hall,” Inciarte told San José Spotlight. That’s money that could be going back into our community.”

Inciarte said the 49ers should focus less on political spending and more on bringing concerts and other live events to Levi’s Stadium. She said that could generate more revenue for the city and support stadium workers. She also questioned whether residents know how much the stadium generates from non-football events.

The outside spending has also prompted questions about whether the 49ers’ involvement could shape the District 2 race. Williams said the team has the resources to spend heavily in local elections and that voters should consider the influence of outside money when evaluating candidates.

“We’re not a one issue city, right?” Williams said. “Like the 49ers, special interest money. It is a lot. It is something to be aware of. It is not the only special interest money that unfortunately gets spent in Santa Clara politics.”

The District 2 race is one of two contested council races in Santa Clara this year. District 3 candidates Eric Crutchlow and Kyle Madej are also competing for an open seat, with Councilmember Karen Hardy terming out in December and seeking the mayor’s seat.

Crutchlow, who chairs the Santa Clara Planning Commission, reported $4,260 in total contributions through Sept. 25, including a $2,000 loan to his campaign. Madej, CEO of Sentinel Holdings Ltd., reported $10,395.90 in total contributions during the same period.

Madej said the 49ers have so far stayed out of the District 3 race.

“They’ve stayed out of our race, and I hope they stay out of our race,” Madej told San José Spotlight. “I think the voters should be able to make that decision with a clear mind rather than feeling like they have to side with one side or the other.”

Crutchlow said he is happy the 49ers haven’t put money into the contest.

“I like the idea behind our democracy — voters choose who they want to elect,” he told San José Spotlight. “When you get a large amount of money, and they can try and sway us, not good. I didn’t want any kind of backing from PACs and I don’t take money from companies in general.”

Contact Maryanne Casas-Perez at [email protected] or @CasasPerezRed on X.