State Candidates Spent Record $103.8 Million in ’94

Candidates for state offices spent a record $103.8 million for the 1994 general election, nearly 50% more than the record set in 1990, the secretary of state’s office said.

The report by Secretary of State Bill Jones covered campaign financing activity for the six-month period between July 1 and Dec. 31.

“The record levels of fund raising and spending in the 1994 general election is remarkable not just in terms of the vast amount of funds involved,” Jones said, “but for what can clearly be seen as an alarming trend in the escalating cost of participating in the democratic process.”

Jones, who spent $1.2 million, nearly two times the amount spent by opponent Tony Miller, called for limits on campaign spending and said he hopes that the courts will reinstate Proposition 73, approved by voters in 1988. The initiative was overturned by the courts.

The governor’s race also broke records, with Pete Wilson and Kathleen Brown spending a total of $31.8 million, compared to the record of $29.3 million set in 1990 when Wilson ran against Dianne Feinstein. Wilson spent $19.5 million and Brown $12.2 million.

Lt. Gov. Gray Davis spent $3 million against Republican Cathie Wright, who spent $829,000.

The average campaign for a state Senate seat cost $229,676, almost three times the comparable amount in 1992. But spending on Assembly races fell below 1988 and 1992 levels.

State Senate candidates spent $16.7 million, compared to $6 million during the 1992 election. Top spenders were Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward), who spent $3.1 million, mostly on other Democratic races; Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-Santa Barbara), who spent $1.2 million, and Democrat Michael McGowan, who spent $971,540 and lost.

Assembly candidates spent $28.4 million, $1 million less than in 1992. Top spenders were Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who spent and doled out to Democrats $4.1 million, and Republican Leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga, $1.4 million.

For the first time in 20 years, Republican Assembly candidates spent much more than their Democratic rivals in the 1994 general election. The median expenditure for Republican candidates was $104,817 and $83,151 for Democrats.