San Jose’s three competitive City Council races have seen a significant increase in campaign donations since the June primary election, as six candidates continue their campaigns ahead of November. Recent campaign filings show that roughly $240,000 in direct contributions were raised between July 1 and September 19. This amount represents nearly a third of all fundraising since campaigning for these seats began last year and is expected to shape the final weeks of the runoff elections unfolding in District 5, District 7, and District 9.
In District 9, licensed marriage and family therapist Genny Altwer has maintained her fundraising advantage. Altwer, who finished first in the crowded June primary with 35.5% of the vote, has raised $183,216 since launching her campaign, which includes a $15,000 personal loan. Her opponent, longtime Public Works Department employee Gordon Chester, has seen an increased pace of donations. Chester, who secured 22.2% of the June vote, has raised $54,775, a figure that marks a near doubling of his campaign’s financial support since July. He has also contributed $4,000 as a personal loan. Chester told San José Spotlight that since July, a majority of his contributions have been $100 or less, highlighting the role of volunteers in his campaign. Altwer stated her support shows that neighbors have expressed frustration with City Hall insiders.
Altwer and Chester are vying to replace terming out Vice Mayor Pam Foley as the representative for the district, which includes neighborhoods such as Hillsdale, Cambrian Park, and a southern portion of Willow Glen. The donor lists of both candidates have become a point of discussion in the race. Chester’s campaign has highlighted that several of Altwer’s donors are active in Republican politics, including five who hold leadership roles on the Santa Clara County Republican Central Committee. Altwer dismissed this line of attack, noting she has received endorsements from Congressman Sam Liccardo, a Democrat, and Planned Parenthood. Her campaign, in turn, questioned Chester’s public safety commitment, citing support he has received from the South Bay Progressive Alliance. In 2020, this organization backed a campaign that encouraged San Jose to redirect police funding to community services. Chester clarified that he does not support defunding the police but does favor expanding options for non-police responses to emergencies.
In the District 7 race, between incumbent Bien Doan and East Side Union High School District trustee Van Le, the funding picture has remained largely stable since the primary. Doan, who finished with 47.8% of the vote in the primary compared to Le’s 22.4%, continues to outraise his opponent. He has drawn in $189,884 in direct donations, including a $20,000 personal loan. Le has raised $119,286 and also contributed to her campaign with a $30,000 loan. Doan’s campaign has also received support from business-aligned political groups, with the California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses PAC spending over $150,000 to aid his candidacy. Le emphasized that while fundraising helps reach voters, in-person conversations are essential for her campaign. Doan stated that donations reflect his work against new taxes and rising costs, for public safety, and his efforts to lower homelessness with solutions like interim shelters. The campaign for District 7, which encompasses parts of central and East San Jose and has a notable Vietnamese population, has featured strong statements from both candidates as they aim to be seen as unifying figures in a district where an incumbent councilmember has not been reelected for a second term in more than a decade.
In District 5, incumbent Councilmember Peter Ortiz has solidified his substantial funding lead, despite an increase in donations for challenger Nora Campos, a former San Jose Councilmember and Assemblymember. Ortiz, who finished first in June with 44.9% of the vote, has accumulated $222,060 in direct donations, including a $300 personal loan. Campos, who is seeking a rematch against Ortiz, has raised $100,572, with approximately 40% of that amount flowing into her campaign coffers over the last three months. Campos has also loaned $3,000 to her campaign. Ortiz has received significant support from labor-backed groups, with the political committee supported by the South Bay Labor Council spending more than $143,000 to boost his campaign. Campos attributed her funding support to growing frustration among East San Jose voters regarding persistent quality of life challenges, such as housing affordability, crime, neighborhood blight, and limited economic opportunity. Campos stated her campaign focuses on the residents of the district. Ortiz, meanwhile, has aimed to show voters that he has delivered on promises during his time in office, including measures to reduce crime, protect immigrants, and foster economic investment in the district. He noted receiving donations from almost 500 donors, which are used to communicate positively about improving the quality of life for voters and small business owners in District 5.
