Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass can finance her re-election campaign with public funds through a city program that uses taxpayer dollars to match eligible campaign contributions. The Super Match Program, overhauled by the Los Angeles City Council in 2019, allows candidates running for mayor, city attorney, city controller, or city council to receive matching funds from the city.
The program matches qualified donations at a six-to-one ratio. According to Bass's campaign video released earlier this week, a $5 donation becomes $35 through public matching funds, while a $25 contribution grows to $175. "Thanks to LA's Super Match Program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles Residents is matched six to one by the city," Bass said in the video. "So we need you to rush your matching donation right now to help fuel this campaign."
What the Right Is Saying
Critics have raised concerns about using public funds for political campaigns, arguing it forces taxpayers to finance candidates they may not support. Conservative opponents contend that while matching programs aim to reduce big-money influence, they still divert public resources toward political activities with which many residents disagree.
The Los Angeles Municipal Code permits eligible candidates to receive matching contributions based on contributor certification forms that include the donor's name, residence address, job title, and employer information. The code states that if a candidate "knows or should know" that a request for matching funds is based on false information, the candidate can be charged with a misdemeanor, must repay matching funds received, and may be removed from office if elected.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and Democratic-aligned organizations have defended public campaign financing as a way to reduce the influence of wealthy donors and increase political participation among ordinary residents. Common Cause California said the Super Match Program "has led to a wider range of candidates from all backgrounds and perspectives receiving matching funds and running campaigns for citywide and council offices." The organization added that the program "has paved the path for a city government that better reflects the diversity of Los Angeles and represents the needs of all Angelenos."
Bass's opponent, Nithya Raman, is also eligible to receive taxpayer-funded matching contributions through the same program. While criticizing aspects of L.A.'s current system, Raman has advocated for "democracy vouchers" similar to programs in Seattle and Oakland, which provide public funds directly to residents who can then donate to candidates of their choice without making personal donations themselves.
"Though democracy vouchers will by no means solve this issue in one fell swoop, they will help create a more equitable campaign finance system that everyone can participate in," Raman said. "By making campaign financing accessible to all, the City can boost political engagement, diversify the donor pool, and ensure that candidates and officeholders are more representative of the electorate."
What the Numbers Show
The Super Match Program sets specific limits on public financing. For mayoral campaigns, individual contributions eligible for matching are capped at $257 per contributor. The total matching funds a candidate can receive for the general election is capped at $1,507,000.
Los Angeles is not alone in using public campaign financing. New York City matches resident contributions at an eight-to-one ratio under a program created in 1988 during Mayor Ed Koch's administration. Portland, Oregon operates a Small Donor Elections program with similar public matching provisions. Seattle and Oakland use "Democracy Voucher" systems that provide residents with publicly-funded coupons to donate directly to candidates without making personal out-of-pocket contributions.
The Bottom Line
The legality of Bass using the Super Match Program is clear under current Los Angeles Municipal Code, which explicitly designates mayoral candidates as eligible participants. Both major candidates in the race can access the same public financing mechanism. What remains debated is whether programs like this represent a step toward more equitable politics or an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars for political campaigns. Voters in future municipal elections may see similar questions arise as more cities consider public campaign financing options.