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{shortcode-dd08abb0bb2b02bf4881baaa9fb305566107f8d4}here are nine seats in Cambridge’s Sullivan Chamber. This year, City Council candidates have collectively raised more than half a million dollars to win one.
The 19 Council candidates together raised more than $538,000 from individual donations and special interest groups, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. And as super PACs endorse candidates, the political groups separately raised nearly $100,000 in an effort to support their endorsees.
The Crimson analyzed OCPF data from each candidate and super PAC to break down how candidates are funding their bids for the Council.
Candidates
Campaigns have taken in drastically different amounts this cycle, with the top fundraiser filling his war chest with nearly $150,000 while the lowest five fundraisers have each raised less than $7,000.
Challenger Timothy R. Flaherty surged to the top soon after pulling papers to enter the race. Since the start of the year, he has raised $149,845 — nearly triple the second and third highest fundraisers. Mayor E. Denise Simmons is the second-highest fundraiser with $55,390, and Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern has raised $49,696.
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On average, incumbent candidates have raised more than challengers, with only two challengers — Flaherty and Ayah Al-Zubi ’23 — outraising a majority of current councilors. Along with higher average fundraising this cycle, some incumbents entered the race with healthy amounts in their campaign accounts.
McGovern began this election cycle with nearly $30,000 left over from last cycle, and Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui had nearly $20,000 at the start. Each incumbent entered the race with money left over — with some with as little as a few hundred, and others beginning the race with more than what a majority of candidates have raised in the current cycle.
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Candidates’ expenditures vary wildly, with some spending nearly every dollar they raise and others holding most of their cash in hand.
Incumbent Burhan Azeem has spent the most of any candidate — more than $33,000 during his campaign, leaving just under $10,000 in hand. His expenditure and contribution rates are similar to McGovern’s, though McGovern still has more than $44,000 ready to spend.
Flaherty is at the bottom of expenditure rate compared to contributions, spending just over $15,000, and holding on to more than $134,000. Only one candidate, Robert Winters, has not tapped into his campaign account — leaving his nearly $6,000 remainder from last race and $750 raised this term untouched.
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A large part of candidate fundraising comes from individual donors, especially for the top five fundraisers in the race. Individuals have a contribution limit of $1,000 in accordance with Massachusetts state law, and often contribute amounts at the limit, with the second most common being $500 contributions.
For Flaherty, a majority of his fundraising comes from high-dollar individual donations. He has received 60 $1,000 contributions — and 72 $500 contributions — from CEOs, past Cambridge political figures, and local business owners. Much of Simmons’ fundraising also comes from high individual contributions, with nine $1,000 contributions and 42 $500 contributions.
Personal contributions also make up a significant portion of the candidates’ fundraising, with the top raisers putting up thousands of their own money to fund their campaigns. Flaherty self-funded $10,000 of his campaign, while Simmons put $1,300 toward her cause. Incumbent Catherine “Cathie” Zusy self-funded $7,000, and Azeem spent $4,000 on his campaign.
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Super PACs
In the last election cycle, Cambridge super PACs raised more than $81,000. This year, they saw about a 22.5 percent increase in their fundraising.
The three major super PACs in Cambridge — A Better Cambridge, Cambridge Citizens Coalition, and Cambridge Bike Safety — have gained considerable influence over the past six years by endorsing candidates who support their priorities around housing and bike policy.
Though super PACs are prohibited from donating directly to candidates or coordinating with their campaigns, they must list who they are supporting and opposing in campaign finance disclosures.
This year, CCC and ABC both endorsed eight candidates while CBS endorsed 12. In total, 18 out of the 20 candidates in the race have an endorsement from at least one of the groups. The only candidates not endorsed by a super PAC are Winters and Flaherty.
The only super PAC that organized against the election of candidates was CBS, which disclosed that its expenditures opposed candidates Hanratty, Flaherty, and incumbent Ayesha M. Wilson.
The super PACs give candidates the chance to fill out candidate questionnaires — or, in the case of CBS, sign a pledge — to select a slate of candidates to endorse.
Under Cambridge’s system of ranked choice voting, candidates who do not gain enough first-round support are eliminated from the race and their votes are redistributed based on the voter’s next highest-ranked candidate. Super PAC expenditures can play a significant role in the process by giving candidates greater name recognition outside their base.
But to successfully lobby for their slate, super PACs need money to promote their candidates through mailers, yard signs, flyers, and digital advertisements.
CBS led the field in fundraising this election cycle, bringing in nearly $55,000 to support their slates. ABC and CCC raised around $23,000 and $21,000, respectively.
Early voting has already started in Cambridge. Election Day is Nov. 4.
—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at shawn.boehmer@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.
—Staff writer Jack B. Reardon can be reached at jack.reardon@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @JackBReardon.
