Panel dismisses Hahn’s fundraising complaint against Newsom

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A complaint filed by lieutenant governor candidate Janice Hahn aimed at limiting the fundraising of her rival, Gavin Newsom, for the June election has been dismissed. In a letter Friday, the Fair Political Practices Commission notified both the Hahn and Newsom campaigns that Newsom was allowed to raise money from donors who had already given to his gubernatorial campaign.

Newsom dropped his bid for governor last fall. But Hahn argued that money given to Newsom for that race should be counted against his fundraising abilities in his race for lieutenant governor. Under state limits, candidates for lieutenant governor may only receive $6,500 from an individual donor.

In a letter to Hahn’s attorney, Stephen Kaufman, FPPC executive director Roman Porter said Hahn’s complaint was without merit.

‘You alleged that Mr. Newsom and his campaign for lieutenant governor violated the contributions limits imposed by the (political reform act) when he accepted contributions from individuals who already made contributions up to the limit to his campaign for governor. After review of the complaint, the FPPC has found no violation of the act.

‘Please be advised that the Fair Political Practices Commission has closed this file without action.’

The ruling is a victory for Newsom and allows him to go back to his donor base to raise additional funds in his race against Hahn for lieutenant governor. The two are vying for the Democratic nomination in the June primary.

--Anthony York