Friedman Holds Big Fundraising Lead Over Sneddon in Mayor's Race
With just over six weeks to the Nov. 3 election, Eric Friedman has nearly doubled Kristen Sneddon's fundraising and holds more than twice her cash on hand.
Eric Friedman has opened a wide fundraising lead over Kristen Sneddon in the race for Santa Barbara mayor, according to campaign reports covering the period ending Sept. 19.
Friedman has raised $185,916 in 2026 and held $163,934 in cash on hand as of Sept. 19. Sneddon has raised $95,305 with $70,652 in cash on hand. A third mayoral candidate, Wendy Sims-Moten, did not yet have a report on the city's website for the period.
Santa Barbara Newsmakers noted that Friedman's financial edge could help offset Sneddon's organizational advantage from the Democratic endorsement, which brings volunteer canvassers, a mailed slate card and targeted voter data, among other benefits. In a city where 59 percent of voters are registered Democrats, according to the registrar's office, the party endorsement is an important signifier for voters who may not follow City Hall issues closely.
The reports also show the shape of the council races. In District 4, covering the Riviera, Mission Canyon and Eucalyptus Hill, Devon Wardlow and Monte Wilson have each raised about $85,000 overall, with Wardlow holding the cash-on-hand advantage. In District 5, Ian Baucke has raised more than $18,000 to Cevin Cathell's $8,800 and James Zurlinden's $850. In District 6, Gabe Escobedo has raised nearly $20,000 to Alexander Stoeber's nearly $15,000.
Notable donors in the mayoral race include commercial real estate figures and downtown landlords on Friedman's side, and attorneys, a Friends of State Street president and philanthropist Sara Miller McCune among Sneddon's contributors, according to the reports.
The election is Nov. 3. Campaign finance reports are filed with the city and available through its public portal.
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