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Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing scrutiny after an online ad revealed that that campaign contributions from supporters of her reelection bid would be matched by taxpayer dollars.
“Your donation to our campaign right now is more critical than ever before,” said Bass, speaking into a lapel microphone with upbeat music playing in the background of the ad, which was posted to her campaign’s X account.
“Let me explain,” she continued. “Thanks to LA’s super match program, every qualified donation from Los Angeles residents is matched 6-to-1 by the city. But after the primary, we had to start over from scratch, so we need you to rush your matching donation right now to help fuel this campaign.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attends the Women for Bass phone bank event in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles, Calif., June 1, 2026. (Louise Barnsley/Splash for Digital)
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Bass noted that chipping in $5 would equate to a $35 total donation, while $25 would become $175.
The explanation immediately raised eyebrows for those concerned that taxpayer dollars are being used as campaign contributions.
“It’s a system they set up to enrich themselves and their friends and get themselves elected,” Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, told Digital in response to Bass’ video.
“It’s like when you’re a kid, and the kid with the fancy ball gets to make all the rules of the game you’re about to play. That’s what this is.”
But the system is perfectly legal.
“It’s much like when people complain about election fraud in California. It’s not fraud. Everything is codified just the way they like it,” said Hoge.
A view of Los Angeles (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
“Almost none of the money that Los Angeles takes in is used for things that make sense,” she continued. “Money goes to homelessness and it increases homelessness. Basically, nothing makes sense here, and this is another thing that doesn’t make sense.”
Bass’ campaign did not respond to Digital’s request for comment.
Still, critics raged online about a program that has been in use for mayoral candidates since the 1990s.
“This is grotesque,” said author and University of Austin professor Michael Shellenberger in response to the video of Bass.
“Outrageous,” quipped Richard Grennell, a Trump administration official.
“Hold your horses… The current Mayor of the City of LA, who is running for reelection, is allowed to take money from the city to fund her campaign at a 6 to 1 payout???” asked former Ronald Reagan official David McIntosh incredulously.
Vice President Kamala Harris congratulated Karen Bass after she was sworn in as mayor during her inauguration at LA Live in Los Angeles Dec. 11, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP)
“That’s so innovative, I’m sure this totally legit and not communist at all,” Los Angeles activist Tony Moon said sarcastically.
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The matching program has been in effect for qualified mayoral candidates since 1990.
Slowly over time, the match limit has increased, and in 2019 the current 6-to-1 match took effect and has been in use since then.
Qualified candidates can choose to participate in the matching program, and must fill out a statement of acceptance of matching funds, according to city campaign rules.
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A CHP vehicle burns beneath the Main Street overpass in downtown Los Angeles during anti-ICE riots June 8, 2025, after rioters targeted officers below, according to federal prosecutors. (The United States Department of Justice)
To qualify, a candidate must have already raised 300 times the maximum matchable amount per contributor — $257 — have at least 100 donors who have contributed $5 or more and live in Los Angeles, have an opponent and hold at least one public town hall or debate.
All matched donations must come from Angelenos.
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The maximum allowable qualifying donation is $257, which, after the taxpayer-funded 6-to-1 match becomes $1,799. The total cap on matched donations is just over $1.5 million in the general election.
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