The following information has been prepared by the Ethics Commission to provide information about various provisions of state and City law that may apply to candidates seeking election to the Office of Mayor on the June 5, 2018 ballot. For further information or for guidance about questions not addressed here, please feel free to contact the Ethics Commission at (415) 252-3100.
Q: When will the next election for San Francisco Mayor be held?
A: The next election for San Francisco Mayor will be held on June 5, 2018 to fill the remainder of Mayor Lee’s term of office through January 8, 2020. For more information about this election, including steps necessary to appear on the June 5 ballot, visit the website of the Department of Elections at http://sfgov.org/elections/.
The next regularly scheduled Mayoral election (for a new four-year term of office beginning January 8, 2020) will be held on November 5, 2019.
Q: What are the campaign statement deadlines for Mayoral candidates running in the June 2018 election?
A: Campaign committees for candidates seeking election as Mayor in June 2018 must file public disclosure reports electronically with the San Francisco Ethics Commission on the same dates as other races appearing on the June 2018 ballot, according to the following schedule:
| Filing Deadline | Period of Activity covered | Statement Type and Number |
|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2018 | After the closing date of the last statement filed, or January 1, if no previous statement has been filed, through December 31, 2017 | Semi-Annual Statement (Form 460 or 470) |
| Within 24 hours of the disclosable activity during covered period | March 7, 2018 – June 5, 2018 | Late Contribution Reports (Form 497) |
| April 26, 2018 | 1/1/18 – 4/21/18 | 1st Pre-Election Statement (Form 460 or 470) |
| May 24, 2018 | 4/22/18 – 5/19/18 | 2nd Pre-Election Statement (Form 460 or 470) |
| July 31, 2018 | 5/20/18 – 6/30/18 | Semi-Annual Statement (Form 460 or 470) |
| January 31, 2019 | 7/1/18 – 12/31/18 | Semi-Annual Statement (Form 460 or 470) |
For further information about these filing deadlines, see the Fair Political Practices Commission’s Filing Schedule for Candidates and Controlled Committees for Local Office Being Voted on June 5, 2018 at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Filing%20Schedules/2018/2018_01_Local_Jun_5_Cand.pdf.
Q: Can individuals who have already declared their intent to run for Mayor in the November 2019 election also run for Mayor in the June 2018 election?
A: Persons who declared themselves to be candidates for Mayor in the November 2019 election may also be candidates for Mayor in the June 2018 election. They must complete certain steps to establish themselves as candidates in the June 2018 election and open a June 2018 candidate committee.
First, nomination papers must be filed with the Department of Elections by January 9, 2018. Visit http://sfgov.org/elections/ for more information.
A candidate must also amend the Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) previously filed with the Ethics Commission to indicate that the candidate now intends to run for Mayor in the June 2018 election. While this amended statement of intent can be filed any time before the date of the election, the Form 501 must be filed before any money is solicited or raised in connection with a June 2018 Mayoral campaign.
A Statement of Organization (Form 410) must be filed with both the Ethics Commission and the California Secretary of State within ten days of a candidate receiving $2,000 in contributions in connection with a June 2018 Mayoral campaign.
Candidates who have already filed a Form 410 for the November 2019 Mayoral campaign may file an amended Form 410 to re-designate their November 2019 committee as a June 2018 committee. The election year and name of the committee must be changed.
- Note: The Form 501 for the June 2018 Mayoral election must be filed before amending a Form 410 to re-designate a candidate’s 2019 committee as a 2018 committee.
Q: Will candidates seeking election to the office of Mayor on the June 2018 election be eligible to participate in the City’s public financing program?
A: Yes, candidates for Mayor in the June 2018 election may opt to participate in the City’s public financing program.
- Candidates must file a Statement of Participation (Form SFEC-142a) with the Ethics Commission on or before January 9, 2018. Candidates may file this statement before they have met all of the eligibility requirements for public financing.
- Candidates also must file a Qualifying Request for public funds with the Ethics Commission on or before March 27, 2018. In this filing, the candidate submits proof of receiving qualifying contributions equal to or greater than the minimum amount required to be eligible for public financing.
Q: How does a Mayoral candidate become eligible to receive public financing for the 2018 election?
A: Candidates for Mayor in the June 2018 election are subject to certain eligibility requirements in order to receive public funds for their campaign. Under City law, the requirements vary depending on whether the candidate is an incumbent or non-incumbent. All publicly financed candidates must agree to participate in the program requirements.
Among other requirements, a non-incumbent Mayoral candidate must receive $50,000 in qualifying contributions between December 5, 2016 and March 26, 2018. A qualifying contribution must be not less than $10 and not more than $100 and must be made by an individual who is a resident of San Francisco. A candidate who is an incumbent Mayor must receive $75,000 in qualifying contributions between December 5, 2016 and March 26, 2018.
For more information about San Francisco’s public campaign financing system, visit https://sfethics.org/guidance/campaigns/candidates/public-financing-program.
Q: To promote understanding of and compliance with City and State laws that apply to campaigns for City office, San Francisco law requires every candidate for City elective office and his or her treasurer to attend a training program conducted or sponsored by the Ethics Commission. When will the Ethics Commission provide this training?
A: City law requires candidates to attend the training within one year prior to the date of the election. Treasurers must attend the next training session conducted after the date the committee files its statement of organization or an amendment designating a new treasurer.
The Ethics Commission will be conducting candidate and treasurer training sessions for the June 2018 election beginning in January 2018. Information about training session dates will be available on the Ethics Commission website at https://sfethics.org/compliance as soon as those dates are finalized.
Revised 12/19/17