In the off-season, the San Francisco 49ers spent nearly $42 million on free agents, considered downright stingy by National Football League standards. But the team, which sits comfortably in first place in the NFC West, hasn’t been shy about investing millions to keep a winning team on its home turf.
The 49ers manage Levi’s Stadium under a contract arrangement with the city’s stadium authority, which owns the facility, and there have been disputes over financial and other issues between the parties.
Campaign spending reports show that the Niners spent more than $2.6 million in 2026 to influence local politics through independent expenditure committees targeting City of Santa Clara candidates. That’s more than half the cost of the team’s new kicker, Eddy Piñeiro.
The nearly $11.5 million the team has spent to help local politicians since 2020 has dramatically impacted the city’s political life. The team will find out this week whether its latest Santa Clara investment resulted in winners or losers.
In early returns, it looks Santa Clara voters might get the last word
The latest 49ers’ PAC spending supported mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris and opposed two of his five opponents, Kathy Watanabe and David Kertes. Watanabe, a former council member, is a longtime ally of Mayor Lisa Gillmor, who terms out this year.
First reports from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters showed Watanabe in second position, with 2,619 votes, behind Karen Hardy, who was leading with 2,911 votes. Ferraris was a distant fourth, at 1,472 votes, behind Kertes, with 2,265 votes, and Kevin Park, with 2,071 votes.
Hardy, a former council colleague of Watanabe, had received 49ers’ support in past council races, but failed to receive any assistance in her bid for mayor.
The PAC also supported council candidate Kimberley Williams and opposed council candidate Yvonne Inciarte.
Williams held a solid lead in early voting, with 1,021 votes, compared to 737 for Inciarte.
In Council District 3, with no 49ers’ PAC involvement, Eric Crutchlow was leading Kyle Madej, 993 to 818 votes.
