Capitol Alert

Capitol Alert

Jerry Brown has nearly $24 million for future ballot campaigns

By Jim Miller

jmiller@sacbee.com

January 29, 2015 11:05 AM

Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his re-election while taking with reporters at his Capitol office on Nov. 5, 2014. New campaign-finance reports show that the governor’s re-election campaign spent about $5.7 million, not counting contributions to his ballot-measure committee and others.
Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his re-election while taking with reporters at his Capitol office on Nov. 5, 2014. New campaign-finance reports show that the governor’s re-election campaign spent about $5.7 million, not counting contributions to his ballot-measure committee and others. Rich Pedroncelli AP
Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his re-election while taking with reporters at his Capitol office on Nov. 5, 2014. New campaign-finance reports show that the governor’s re-election campaign spent about $5.7 million, not counting contributions to his ballot-measure committee and others. Rich Pedroncelli AP

Gov. Jerry Brown has nearly $24 million on hand to put toward any future ballot campaign or to give to other candidate or causes, according to newly filed state reports.

Brown finished 2014 with $19.6 million left in his main campaign account after spending less than $5.7 million during an easy run for re-election, his state filing shows. His ballot measure committee ended the year with almost $4.2 million on hand.

Brown has offered few specifics about how he might use his millions in left-over campaign funds but said after his Nov. 4 re-election that he may spend the money to “finish with a flourish with some major ballot measure battle” in 2016 or 2018.

More than $5.1 million of Brown’s spending to win a historic fourth term went to purchase TV and cable airtime, according to Brown’s filings. Brown’s Republican opponent, Neel Kashkari, who put more than $2 million of his own money into his effort, has not filed his end-of-year report. The statements are due Jan. 31.

In addition, Brown’s campaign transferred $5.2 million to his ballot measure committee, Yes on Propositions 1 and 2,” to win voter approval of a new water bond and a measure to establish a tough budget reserve.

The ballot measure committee reported spending $10.8 million from July through December, with almost $10 million of that for TV or cable airtime purchases.

Call Jim Miller, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5521. Follow him on Twitter @jimmiller2.

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