Manriquez: Why San Jose needs campaign finance reform

In the heart of Silicon Valley, where progress and innovation are watchwords, San Jose’s democracy faces a crisis of representation.

The 2022 election, the most expensive in our city’s history, revealed a troubling truth: the voices of everyday San Jose residents are being drowned out by big money in politics, a trend that continues in the current election cycle.

As community leaders have invested in our city’s future, we’ve witnessed how the current campaign finance system undermines our democracy. A MapLight report on San Jose’s 2022 election shows campaign contributions more than tripled since 2018, reaching $7 million. A staggering 81% of all funds came from high-dollar contributors giving $500 or more. Nearly half of the money came from non-residents, diluting local voices.

These numbers reflect a system where the concerns of working families, immigrants and young residents are drowned out by wealthy donors and special interests. In San Jose, large corporations and developers have repeatedly used their influence to shape local politics. For example, large corporations and developers regularly sway elections to shape the city for their own gain. These cases show how our system lets money dominate decisions about our future — but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Organizations like the League of Women Voters have long led the fight against the outsized influence of money in politics, and grassroots groups like LUNA are mobilizing underrepresented communities to be more civically engaged. These efforts are especially crucial in cities like San Jose, where corporate-funded super PACs and a small number of wealthy individuals drown out local voices. But to truly ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, we can do more.

Cities across the country, from Seattle to San Francisco, are embracing innovative solutions to create a more equitable political landscape. Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program provides city residents with four vouchers, each worth $25, that can be pledged to eligible candidates running for municipal offices.

This program amplifies the voices of everyday people and encourages a wider range of candidates to run for office. Just look at Seattle, where they’ve had this program since 2015 and seen real changes. In Seattle’s 2023 City Council elections, about 30,000 voters used democracy vouchers, injecting nearly $2.4 million in public money into candidates’ campaigns, fundamentally changing how local campaigns are run and investing public resources back into the community. Instead of courting wealthy donors, candidates focused on going door-to-door and engaging directly with constituents.

The benefits of such a program are clear and backed by research from the University of Washington. First, increased civic engagement occurs when people have a stake in the election process, leading to higher voter turnout and a more engaged citizenry. Second, reducing barriers to running for office ensures our elected officials reflect the rich diversity of our community. Seattle has seen an increase in the number of candidates choosing to run. Third, accountability improves when candidates rely on a broad base of small donors rather than a handful of wealthy contributors, making them more responsive to all constituents. Finally, a public financing system enhances transparency by illuminating campaign funding and helping voters understand who backs each candidate.

Critics may argue that such a program is too costly. But we must ask ourselves: what is the cost of a democracy where only the wealthy have a meaningful say?

The long-term benefits of a more responsive, representative government far outweigh the initial investment. As community leaders and members of the Fair Elections San Jose Coalition, we envision a future where every community member has an equal voice, regardless of income or ability to contribute.

The path to a more equitable democracy starts here, in our neighborhoods. It’s time for San Jose to lead the way in implementing a comprehensive package of campaign finance reforms, centered around a voucher program. By championing these reforms, we can reduce the influence of big money in our city and strengthen the voices of all San Jose residents in local government.

Let’s give democracy back to the people of San Jose.

Gabriel Manriquez is a community organizer with LUNA-San Jose.