California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Study Finds Election Spending Decreased

Legislative candidates spent $54.4 million on their campaigns last year, down from a 1988 total of $68 million, but the spending advantage of incumbents increased, Common Cause said Tuesday. “The system is, unfortunately, skewed so incumbents have a tremendous fund-raising advantage,” Ruth Holton of the nonpartisan citizen watchdog group said at a Capitol news conference. While the total amount was down, incumbents in 1990 outspent challengers by an average of 8 to 1, compared to 6 to 1 in 1988, the study found. Ninety-two percent of legislative incumbents were returned to office.