An outside committee supporting Matt Mahan filed papers to shut down, while another committee refunded a $1 million donation from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. A political consultant said donor money being returned and committees closing are negative signs. A complaint alleging illegal coordination between Mahan’s campaign and California Back to Basics was filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and could lead to penalties up to $5 million. The campaign did not respond to questions about the committee shutdown or the ethics complaint. Mahan’s campaign raised $15 million in direct donations this year. Observers linked the trouble to earlier strategist changes and an urgent fundraising push, alongside weak polling performance.
"An outside committee set up to support Mahan's campaign, Deliver for Mahan, has filed papers to shut down while another, California Back to Basics, has refunded a $1 million donation from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, as first reported by the Mercury News. "It's never a good sign when a donor wants money back or a committee closes down," Steven Maviglio, a Sacramento-based political consultant, told San José Spotlight."
"The New York Post obtained a complaint alleging Mahan's campaign illegally coordinated with California Back to Basics, an outside committee. The Post reported the complaint could warrant penalties of up to $5 million amid signs the campaign is short on cash. The complaint was filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission."
"Representatives for Mahan's campaign, which has raised $15 million in direct donations this year, didn't respond to questions about the independent committee shutting down or the ethics complaint. "It doesn't seem like the kind of moves folks would make if they expected him to win the runoff," Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chair Bill James told San José Spotlight. "It seems like a recognition that despite significant spending on his behalf, the campaign has not gained any traction.""
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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