Facebook was paid $5.29 million from California campaign accounts


In California, state-level candidates and PACs have spent $5.29 million from their campaign accounts on services from Facebook in the 2022 election cycle so far. Facebook received 0.5 percent of all reported expenditures. 

According to reports filed with the California Secretary of State between Jan. 1, 2021, and Apr. 23, 2022, here are the top candidates and PACs that have spent campaign funds with Facebook.

Top 10 California campaigns spending money with Facebook

Of the $5,290,745 spent with Facebook, 75.07 percent came from these 10 campaign accounts.

Top Campaign Expenditures with Facebook (1/1/2021 – 4/23/2022)

RankTotal Paid to FacebookNameAccount Type
1.$1,659,746.07Stop the Republican Recall of Governor NewsomNon-candidate PAC
2.$538,601.24Kevin KileyCandidate PAC
3.$472,888.31Larry ElderCandidate PAC
4.$255,000.00Committee to Protect California Kids Sponsored by Nonprofit Health OrganizationsNon-candidate PAC
5.$232,500.00Rescue CaliforniaNon-candidate PAC
6.$225,000.00Jenny Rae Le RouxCandidate PAC
7.$202,739.38Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support a Coalition of Housing and Mental Health Experts, Concerned Taxpayers, and Digital Sports Entertainment and Gaming CompaniesNon-candidate PAC
8.$150,000.00Rescue California-to Support the Recall of Gavin NewsomNon-candidate PAC
9.$142,785.93Reform CaliforniaNon-candidate PAC
10.$92,757.71Voto Latino Against the Newsom Recall (Nonprofit 501(c)(4))Non-candidate PAC

Campaign expenditures with Facebook in 12 states

Here is how spending with Facebook in California compares to 12 other states with data available from Transparency USA for the most recent election cycle:

Comparison of total campaign finance expenditures with Facebook, by state

RankStateTotal Paid to FacebookReporting Period
1California$5,290,7451/1/2021- 4/23/2022
2Virginia$4,486,8631/1/2020-12/31/2021*
3Texas$2,675,2761/1/2021 – 5/14/2022
4Michigan$194,1801/1/2021 – 4/20/2022
5Minnesota$166,0721/1/2021 – 3/31/2022
6Arizona123,1541/1/2021 – 3/31/2022
7Pennsylvania$106,5131/1/2021 – 3/9/2022
8Wisconsin$101,9781/1/2021 – 3/21/2022
9North Carolina$78,9601/1/2021 – 4/30/2022
10Florida$38,5421/1/2021 – 3/31/202
11Indiana$29,5341/1/2021 – 4/8/2022
12Ohio$19,9241/1/2021 – 4/13/2022
*Virginia’s two-year election cycles end in an odd-numbered year. The first available reports for Virginia’s 2023 election cycle are due Jul. 17, 2022.

While spending varies widely between states, no state on Transparency USA has reported more than 1.06 percent of total campaign expenditures on services from Facebook in the most recent cycle.

While spending varies widely between states, no state on Transparency USA has reported more than 1.06 percent of total campaign expenditures on services from Facebook in the most recent cycle.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active California PACs submitted to the California Secretary of State. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

Report NameDue Date
Semiannual1/31/2022
1st Pre-Election – Primary4/28/2022
2nd Pre-Election – Primary5/26/2022
Semiannual8/1/2022
1st Pre-Election – General9/29/2022
2nd Pre- Election – General10/27/2022
Semiannual1/31/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.