SB 42 Would Allow Voters to Decide on Public Financing of Campaigns in 2026

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Tuesday Aug. 26, Senator Tom Umberg was joined by Senator Ben Allen, Senator Josh Becker, Assemblymember Alex Lee and advocates to voice strong support for Senate Bill 42, The California Fair Elections Act, ahead of its Assembly Appropriations Committee vote. 

SB 42, jointly authored by Umberg (D–Santa Ana), Allen (D–Santa Monica) and Lee (D–San Jose), would place a measure on the November 2026 ballot to repeal California’s statewide ban on public campaign financing. The ban was implemented in 1988 under Proposition 73, making it over three decades old and increasingly out of date with today’s campaign finance landscape. The bill is co-sponsored by the California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters of California.

“This is bigger than any one of us or any single community—this is about changing the democratic dynamic in California,” said Senator Tom Umberg. “It’s unfortunate that many cities and counties currently cannot pursue public financing if they want to, but we can change that by working across party lines to restore local control and give voters the power to decide.”

Currently, only charter cities like Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco can implement public financing programs. SB 42 would give all jurisdictions the option to consider such systems, which aim to amplify voter voices and reduce the influence of big money in politics.

In the last election cycle, over $2.6 billion in contributions came from just 150 donors, much of it undisclosed. A 2019 poll by the California Clean Money Campaign found that 79% of likely voters believe big contributors have too much influence, while 68% say ordinary voters have too little. Previously, charter city voters have repeatedly supported public financing when given the chance: 75% voted for Los Angeles’ Measure H (2011), 65% for Berkeley’s Measure X1 (2016) and 74% for Oakland’s Measure W (2022). 

“The California Fair Elections Act is about trying to improve our democracy and elections system,” said Senator Ben Allen. “Most Americans believe that money exerts too much influence over our political system, giving disproportionate power to big donors and special interests. Public financing programs are a way to reduce that influence, expand opportunities to run for office, and help candidates focus more on voters instead of donors. This bill gives the people a chance to decide if they want that choice in their communities.”

In 2016, the Legislature passed SB 1107 (Allen), which would have removed the ban on public financing, but courts ruled the change must be approved by voters. SB 42 revives that effort, giving Californians the opportunity to make the decision directly.

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 Senator Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, Long Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and East and South Whittier. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, former federal prosecutor, and small businessman. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.