Marin's Assembly Race Spikes $1.5M in Donations

Campaign Finance Trends in Marin County's Upcoming Elections

As the June 2 primary approaches, a total of six candidates are vying to replace Assemblymember Damon Connolly in District 12. These candidates have already raised over $1.5 million in campaign contributions, according to recent disclosure filings covering the first quarter of 2026. This trend is not limited to the Assembly race; it extends to other local elections, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors and seats in Congress and the state Senate. Additionally, committees supporting local initiatives on the ballot have also reported their financial activities.

Among the candidates in the District 12 race, Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan of Novato stands out as the top fundraiser, having secured more than $482,000 in donations. Corte Madera Councilmember Eli Beckman follows closely with over $377,000, while Tiburon Councilmember Holli Thier has raised more than $329,000. Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward has collected over $247,000, and Sebastopol resident Steve Schwartz has raised more than $100,000.

San Quentin correctional counselor Eryn Cervantes did not file a campaign finance report, which is allowed for candidates who accept up to $2,000 in total contributions without needing to submit a detailed report.

For the reporting period from January 1 to April 18, the candidates collectively reported over $433,000 in contributions. Eric Lucan led with over $170,000, followed by Jackie Elward with $102,000, Eli Beckman with $97,000, Steve Schwartz with $36,000, and Holli Thier with $26,000.

Both Holli Thier and Eli Beckman have contributed substantial amounts to their own campaigns. Thier loaned her campaign $88,000 and received a $10,000 loan from a relative. Beckman loaned his campaign $50,000. Meanwhile, Eric Lucan transferred $96,000 from his supervisorial reelection campaign committee to his Assembly campaign.

David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University, noted that Lucan started as the presumptive favorite and has maintained some lead due to his fundraising efforts. “The race to get into second place and therefore in the money for November is a tight, tight race,” he said.

In the race to succeed Lucan as the District 5 supervisor, five candidates are competing: Andy Podshadley, owner of Trek Winery in Novato; Magali Limeta, president of the Novato Unified School District board; Chris Carpiniello, a housing contractor; Marc Hunter Lewis, a community policy advocate; and Curtis Aikens, a former television chef and former member of the Marin County Human Rights Commission.

Curtis Aikens leads the field with over $77,000 in total contributions, including more than $16,000 during the recent reporting period. Magali Limeta has received over $63,000 in contributions, including more than $23,000 during the reporting period. Andy Podshadley has raised over $15,000 so far, including over $10,000 during the reporting period. He has loaned his campaign about $1,000. Neither Marc Hunter Lewis nor Chris Carpiniello filed a report.

Fundraising in other races has been more lopsided. Connolly, a San Rafael Democrat running to succeed state Sen. Mike McGuire, has received over $1 million in contributions so far, including $238,000 in the first quarter of 2026. His opponents, Tief Gibbs and Aaron Smith, have not received enough contributions to require reporting.

Marin County Supervisor Mary Sackett of San Rafael, seeking re-election for District 1, has reported over $80,000 in campaign contributions, including over $10,000 during the recent reporting period. Her opponent, Mark Galperin, avoided filing by receiving less than $2,000 in contributions.

In the congressional district that includes Marin, Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from San Rafael seeking his eighth term, has received over $653,000 in campaign contributions since the start of the year, with over $1 million on hand. Seven candidates are running against Huffman. Nicolette Hahn Niman, an attorney, author, and West Marin rancher, reported receiving about $59,000 in campaign contributions by the end of March. Rose Penelope Yee, a Shasta County community organizer, reported raising more than $49,000 during the same period. Gregory Burgess of Mill Valley has received more than $25,000. Timothy Geist of Shasta County has received more than $11,000, and Paul Saulsbury of Shasta County reported more than $8,000. Angelita Valles and Robin Littau, also Shasta County residents, have not reported any contributions.

Tax Measures and Campaign Contributions

The election cycle in Marin includes 11 tax measures. Committees supporting seven of these measures have reported collecting campaign contributions from January 1 through April 18.

A committee supporting Measure B, which proposes a 30-year extension of the quarter-cent sales tax that funds Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, reported more than $174,000 in contributions. The largest donation, $100,000, came from the California Alliance for Jobs, which represents more than 2,000 heavy construction companies and 80,000 union construction workers.

The other six committees support school funding measures. The Yes on C for Kentfield Students committee reported more than $79,000 in contributions, including a $49,999 check from the Kentfield Schools Foundation. The Yes on E to Protect Mill Valley Schools received more than $75,000, including $9,999 from Kiddo, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation, and $10,000 from AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas.

Yes on G for Novato Schools reported more than $32,000 during the filing period. Since then, the committee has received more than $43,000, including $10,000 from the Greystone West Co., a construction management company in Sonoma; $7,500 from BHM Construction in Napa; and $5,000 from the Novato Federation of Teachers.

The Yes on H for Ross Valley School District reported more than $45,000 in contributions during the filing period. The committee supporting Measure I, a $12.5 million bond measure to restore an athletic field in Marin City, received $16,000 in contributions. Yes on Measure D for Larkspur-Corte Madera Schools received $12,000.