2026 candidate · follow the money
Who funds Robert Bob J Smith?
The money.
- Raised
- $347K
- Spent
- $290K
- Cash on hand
- $57K
- Debts
- $33K
- Individuals 88% $304K
- PACs & other committees 0.7% $2,500
- Party committees 2% $6,286
- Candidate's own money & loans 7% $24K
- Other receipts 3% $10K
Campaign totals through Oct 14, 2026.
No independent expenditures for or against this filing are itemized in the bulk file.
Largest direct PAC contributions
Who gave.
Who gives $304K from individuals
14% in small-dollar gifts
$42K of $304K came unitemized: from donors whose gifts to the campaign this cycle total $200 or less, whom the campaign does not have to name.
The itemized gifts below add up to $138K of the $262K the campaign reported itemizing through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet processed the rest into its bulk file, which runs to Jun 28, 2026 for this campaign.
84% from California · 16% from elsewhere
Of itemized gifts, by the state on each donor's mailing address. Giving from other states is lawful and common.
Top states
- California $115K
- Nevada $7,000
- Pennsylvania $5,000
- New York $3,500
- Georgia $1,500
- Arizona $1,000
- Florida $1,000
- Indiana $1,000
Retired, self-employed, not employed or not given: $93K. Employers named by fewer than three donors, or filed as a person's name: $45K, not listed so no one donor is singled out.
Summary through Oct 14, 2026. Itemized gifts dated Apr 15, 2025 to Jun 28, 2026, net of refunds (184 entries). Every itemized contribution on FEC.gov ↗
From the principal campaign committee's FEC reports; joint-fundraising transfers and later reports are not included, and no donor is named here. A contribution is not evidence of a vote, favor or wrongdoing.
Outside money in the final weeks.
No 24- or 48-hour report in the FEC file read November 4, 2026 names Robert Bob J Smith.
Where it went.
Where the money went $154K in itemized spending
These itemized payments cover $154K of the $290K the campaign reported spending through Oct 14, 2026. The FEC has not yet itemized the rest in its bulk file, which runs to Jun 29, 2026.
- Advertising & outreach 24% $36K
- Consultants & strategy 33% $51K
- Fundraising & processing fees 15% $23K
- Polling, research & data 7% $9,974
- Travel, meals & events 2% $2,694
- Office, technology & overhead 6% $9,442
- Legal & compliance 4% $6,139
- Other or unclassified 10% $15K
Largest payees
- CITIBUSINESS CARD $39K
- PARAMOUNT COMMUNICATIONS $27K
- SANTA BARBARA COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS $12K
- THE KAL GROUP INC. $4,447
- INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS: POLITICAL $4,360
Paid to individuals: $39K, such as staff, contractors and reimbursements. People who were paid are not named here.
Payments dated Mar 9, 2025 to Jun 29, 2026, as itemized by the principal campaign committee in FEC reports (130 entries). Every payment on FEC.gov ↗
Grouped by each campaign's own description of the payment, so the groups are approximate. Payments of $200 or less to one payee need not be itemized, detail filed only as memo entries counts under other or unclassified, and spending by the candidate's other committees or by outside groups is not included. A payment is not evidence of a favor or wrongdoing.
Others who filed for this seat.
- Salud O. CarbajalDemocrat · $1.9M raised · $1,039 outside
- Sarah BaconDemocrat · $42K raised
Questions worth asking.
Money shows who backed a campaign, not how a person will act. Compare it with what they did and said: their votes or official actions if they have held office, their own statements, and their answers to a finding. Use the same questions for every candidate.
FEC bulk data read November 4, 2026. Campaign totals come from each filing's own FEC summary through its latest processed report. Outside spending is independent expenditures itemized in committee reports in the FEC bulk files, primaries included; late 24- and 48-hour reports, party coordinated spending, communication costs and groups that do not report to the FEC are not included. Outside spending is, by law, made without coordinating with the candidate, and it is not the candidate's money. A contribution or expenditure is not evidence of a vote, favor or wrongdoing. This page identifies the filing by its FEC candidate ID; a person can hold more than one filing.