The latest fundraising totals are in for local, revealing who has the financial edge as candidates gear up for the March 2024 election.
Despite a new law severely scaling back the ability for incumbent officeholders to raise cash, some eye-popping numbers managed to emerge. Here’s a look at the fundraising numbers from January through June:
Fresno Mayor: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is gearing up for his reelection campaign with a fundraising report of $292,812 for the first half of 2023. Dyer boasts a total of $403,558.98 on hand.
- After a lone challenger, Democrat Lourin Hubbard, emerged in April, the former Congressional contender announced he would be pulling out of the race.
Fresno County Supervisor District 2: Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau is fending off a two-front challenge from Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld and Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos.
- Brandau raised $54,626 from January through June, bringing his total cash on hand to $181,281.38.
- Bredefeld had a significant fundraising period. He transferred $228,388.17 from his City Council campaign, loaned $110,000 of his own money to the effort, and raised an additional $192,069 from donors before June 30. He ended the period with $479,731.68 in the bank.
- Dictos loaned himself $20,000 to kick off his campaign and did not have any expenses in the period.
Fresno County Supervisor District 3: While Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero is facing two fellow Democratic challengers trying to move down the street from Fresno City Hall, Quintero holds a major lead in fundraising.
- Quintero reported $57,474 in contributions for the first half of the year, bringing his total on hand up to $120,153.90.
- Despite facing a lawsuit from Fresno County for allegedly transferring more than $30,000 into his Supervisorial campaign account, Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez moved over exactly $30,000 and raised an additional $5,155 in the period. His Supervisorial campaign has $29,934.51 in the bank as of the end of June..
- Fellow councilman Miguel Arias holds slightly more after transferring $22,440.67 from his Council campaign and raising an additional $13,379.30. He has $32,731,72 left on hand.
- EJ Hinojosa, a Fresno Unified music teacher, raised $3,825 and has $2,132.10 left in the bank.
Fresno County Supervisor District 5: Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, running opposed so far, brought in $3,250 and has $327,485.81 in the war chest.
Madera County Supervisor District 3: Madera County Supervisor Rob Poythress is currently unopposed for his third term with the county. Poythress raised $40,729.24 in April through June, bringing his total in the bank to $94,900.92.
Kings County Supervisor, District 5: Hanford small businessman Tyler Pepe, the lone contender to succeed longtime Supervisor Richard Fagundes, hauled in $57,190 from donors and ended the period with $44,917 on-hand.
Kern County Supervisor District 1: Kern County Supervisor Phillip Peters is running for reelection but has not kicked off his fundraising efforts yet, not raising any money and reporting $2,800 in the bank.
- Wasco City Councilman Alex Garcia filed papers to run on July 25 and did not report any fundraising numbers yet.
Fresno City Council District 2: Councilman Mike Karbassi, running for his second term at Fresno City Hall, reported $5,050 in fundraising and has $80,826.04 in the war chest.
- His lone competitor, Matthew Gillian, filed to run on July 28 and has not reported any fundraising totals.
Fresno City Council District 4: City Council President Tyler Maxwell is also currently flying solo for 2024 in District 4. He received $34,400 from January through June and has $150,859.77 in the bank.
Fresno City Council District 6: Local attorney Roger Bonakdar leads the pack by a wide margin in the race to replace Councilman Garry Bredefeld in northeast Fresno.
- Bonakdar raised $218,217.10 in the first half of 2023. He only spent $3,332.72, leaving him with $214,884.38 in the war chest.
- Justin St. George reported $7,320 in fundraising for the period and has $2,442.26 left in the bank.
- Nickolas Richardson brought in $8,667 and is left with $5,150.52 on hand.
