PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
Federal Elections Commission Complaint Filed Against
Pro Todd Gloria PAC
“New San Diego”
For Immediate Release 2/19/2024
Contact Amy Reichert
Chairwoman Restore San Diego
Amy@RestoreSanDiego.org
Attached is a piece of direct mail that was distributed by a campaign committee called “New San Diego” FPPC # 1440543 in the City of San Diego. It supports the slate of candidates for that entity, including two federal candidates (Donald Trump for President and Steve Garvey for US Senate) but only one local candidate (Jane Glasson for Mayor).
I believe this piece has violated federal campaign finance laws and regulations:
Impermissible Use of Funds: I have found no evidence that support of the slate’s federal candidates was funded using federal permissible funds or that New San Diego has a federal committee.
Improper Disclaimer: In fact, the piece carries the disclaimer as required under State and local law rather than federal law. This reinforces the point above but the failure to provide a proper federal disclaimer is also a violation.
Supporting Evidence:
Each of the three candidates on the piece is identified by the position for which they are running on the March 5th Primary in California. Neither Garvey nor Glasson are (or ever have been) elected officials. The use of Mayor in relation to Glasson US Senate in relation to Steve Garvey is clear evidence of electoral advocacy. Garvey has no relation to the US Senate – he is and has never been a member of the US Senate. His only relationship to US Senate is the fact that he is a current federal candidate running for that position on the March 5, 2024 California primary ballot.
I also located the local filing for disclosure of this mailer and it is enclosed. That filing indicates it was solely in support of Glasson for San Diego Mayor and makes no mention of Trump or Garvey. This indicates that New San Diego, itself, views and has filed campaign statements acknowledging this as an electoral advocacy piece, although only for Glasson.
To determine the actual source of funds used for this mailer, I located the enclosed New San Diego disclosure for the semi-annual period ended December 31, 2023.
I am filing this complaint because I am concerned that New San Diego is attempting to affect the outcome of the March 5th primary using funds not permissible under federal law and with no federal disclosure.
Sincerely,
Amy Reichert
This shows the source of (federally impermissible) funds HERE.
This shows how much was spent on the “MAGA slate” mailer HERE.