By Robert Haugh
The 49ers have now spent more than $2.6 million trying to influence Santa Clara’s November election, according to a new San Francisco Chronicle report.
It’s turning the final days of the campaign into a political version of David vs. Goliath.
On one side is billionaire 49ers owner Jed York, whose organization is flooding Santa Clara voters with television commercials, digital ads, mailers and other political advertising.
On the other are candidates knocking on doors, volunteers holding press conferences and residents signing online petitions.
According to the Chronicle, the 49ers have spent nearly $11.5 million since 2020 trying to elect their preferred Santa Clara City Council candidates.
This year, the team is backing Gary Ferraris for Mayor and Kimberley Williams for City Council District 2.
The team’s campaign for Ferraris has been difficult to miss.
49ers-funded ads have appeared on CNN, MS Now, the Hallmark Channel, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Major League Baseball playoff broadcasts and even during a 49ers prime-time game.
Kathy Watanabe reported raising $27,500 and lending her campaign another $7,500.
The 49ers-funded committee supporting Ferraris and opposing Watanabe and David Kertes has received approximately $1.87 million.
Kertes is using a considerably older campaign technology: his shoes.
He told the Chronicle he has personally knocked on nearly 6,800 Santa Clara doors. He said one of the first questions many voters ask is whether he is taking 49ers money.
District 2 candidate Yvonne Inciarte is facing a similar disparity.
The 49ers have put more than $753,000 into a committee supporting Williams and opposing Inciarte. Inciarte has emphasized neighborhood campaigning and received the endorsement of Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN).
Residents are organizing, too.
The Coalition for Community Engagement has held events outside Levi’s Stadium criticizing York’s political spending and calling for more transparency. Separately, petitions launched on JedYorkExposed.com had attracted approximately 1,400 signatures each within days of launching, according to organizers.
The Chronicle cited SCNO’s reporting that Ferraris had been a registered Republican until last year before becoming a Democrat. SCNO previously reported that Ferraris changed his registration in January 2025 and later failed to receive the Santa Clara County Democratic Party endorsement recommendation.
There is also a larger question hanging over the election: Jed York himself.
York was arrested in August in an Ohio prostitution sting and later received a six-game NFL suspension and a $500,000 fine.
Yet his organization continues spending millions to help determine who governs Santa Clara.
For York and the 49ers, the campaign strategy appears familiar: spend big, promote favored candidates and unload negative advertising on opponents.
For the people on the other side, there are no millions.
There are doors to knock on, petitions to sign and voters to persuade one at a time.
I checked out the Reclaiming Downtown Facebook page to see what is going on. I saw that Robert Haugh commented that posts about the SF Chronicle article are being taken down. I got ready to comment on his post, and it was taken down!!!!!! What is going on? Why do the Reclaiming Downtown people want to hide a story about the 49ers. They have other political posts. I thought this is the year that Reclaiming Downtown was going to be political. I guess this this is what we are getting….censorship!
This has happened a lot. I have made comments and I believe it is Mary Grizzle that does it. Can’t say that for certain, but I am pretty sure that’s how it happens. A single voice, nervous about views she does not agree with. What a shame.
I’ve already voted for Watanabe and Inciarte. All I needed to see was the 49er name in the adds for Ferraris and Williams to know who NOT to vote for.
This:
“I’ve already voted for Watanabe and Inciarte. All I needed to see was the 49er name in the adds for Ferraris and Williams to know who NOT to vote for.”
👍👍👍
I copied and pasted the SF Chronicle article into two Facebook groups. District 5 Community (where I live) and Reclaiming Downtown. Reclaiming Downtown took it down immediately. I then posted asking why, and that was taken down. I’m wondering if it is because they are supporting Gary and don’t want the voters to be informed.
You’re on to something. Grizzle has been pumping up Ferraris and attacking Watanabe and Kertes for months. Guess Mary is afraid her boy wasn’t showing in the best light.
Hello Robert,
Great Article. Thank you for letting Santa Clara residents know what is really going on and what is at stake this election.
Thank you to the SFChronicle for shedding light on this important issue in the City of Santa Clara elections. I called the 49er management and asked them to call off the dogs and level the campaign playing field. 49ers said they wanted to protect their interests. Jed York has backed 2 candidates – one for mayor and one for city council – with $2.6M in PACs. Those candidates may not get the money directly but they benefit from the mailers and ads full of lies. Candidates take a pledge not to attack their opponents. The PACs attack instead. How can candidates with limited funds compete against that? It’s time for change.