Westside Democratic HQ is a Democratic political action committee organized by local Democratic Party political organizations and clubs from across California and the Democratic National Committee.

Background

Westside Democratic HQ was founded in 2018. ¹ The organization is comprised of and funded by the Democratic National Committee, Democrats for Israel – Los Angeles, the Heart of LA Democratic Club, LAX Area Democrats, Malibu Democratic Club, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, the Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Monica Democratic Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, West LA Democratic Club, Westchester-Playa Democratic Club, West Hollywood/Beverly Hills Democratic Club, and the Westside Young Democrats. ²

Spending and Activity

In 2020, Westside Democratic HQ contributed to the congressional campaigns of Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) ($2,425) and then-Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA) ($2,425). ³ The PAC spent slightly more than its total political contributions on staff salaries ($4,500) and strategy and research consulting expenses ($625) when combined. ⁴

In 2020, the organization listed $6,720 in expenditures as generally “unclassifiable” ⁵ and an additional $3,686 as “unclassifiable printing and shipping” ⁶ despite elsewhere listing $2,737 as the organization’s expenses for campaigning mailings and materials expenses. ⁷

In addition to engaging in partisan political spending, ⁸ Westside Democratic HQ engages in voter registration through phone banking, text banking, post-carding, and canvassing activities to elect Democratic politicians. ⁹ In 2022, despite being a California-based and funded organization, Westside Democratic HQ discussed plans to register Democratic voters in Arizona and Pennsylvania. ¹⁰

Finances

In 2020, Westside Democratic HQ received $60,204 in total contributions, ¹¹ made $30,526 in total expenditures, ¹² and had $36,714 in net assets. ¹³

Leadership

David Gould is the treasurer of Westside Democratic HQ. ¹⁴ Gould is also the treasurer for other Democratic Party-aligned PACs, including the Democratic Party of Orange County PAC, ¹⁵ the California Young Democrats PAC, ¹⁶ and the Democrats for Israel PAC. ¹⁷

1. ^[1] “Westside Democratic HQ – Statement of Organization.” Federal Election Commission. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/923/201804199110353923/201804199110353923.pdf
2. “Westside Democratic HQ – Financial Summary 2021-2022.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00673590/
3. “Westside Democratic HQ PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates-2020 Expenditures.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/westside-democratic-hq/C00673590/candidate-recipients/2020
4. “Westside Democratic HQ PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates-2020 Expenditures.” Open Secrets.    https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/westside-democratic-hq/C00673590/expenditures/2020
5. “Westside Democratic HQ PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates-2020 Expenditures.” Open Secrets.    https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/westside-democratic-hq/C00673590/expenditures/2020
6. “Westside Democratic HQ PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates-2020 Expenditures.” Open Secrets.    https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/westside-democratic-hq/C00673590/expenditures/2020
7. “Westside Democratic HQ PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates-2020 Expenditures.” Open Secrets.    https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/westside-democratic-hq/C00673590/expenditures/2020
8. “Westside Democratic HQ – Financial Summary 2021-2022.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00673590/
9. “Westside Democratic HQ – Volunteer.” Westside Democratic HQ. https://westsidedemhq.org/home/
10. “Westside Democratic HQ – Phonebanking.” Westside Democratic HQ. https://westsidedemhq.org/home/
11. “Westside Democratic HQ – Financial Summary 2021-2022.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00673590/
12. ^[1] “Westside Democratic HQ – Financial Summary 2021-2022.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00673590/
13. “Westside Democratic HQ – Financial Summary 2021-2022.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00673590/
14. “Westside Democratic HQ – Statement of Organization.” Federal Election Commission. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/923/201804199110353923/201804199110353923.pdf
15. “Outstanding Fines for the Late Filing of Documents Required by the California Political Reform Act.” Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. https://www.times-standard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/outstanding-fines-list.xls-OutstandingFines-01042021.pdf
16. “Outstanding Fines for the Late Filing of Documents Required by the California Political Reform Act.” Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. https://www.times-standard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/outstanding-fines-list.xls-OutstandingFines-01042021.pdf
17. “Democrats for Israel Committee.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs//C00429571/summary/2022