Velagapudi Led Combs in Menlo Park Fundraising

Vamsi Velagapudi outperformed Drew Combs in total campaign contributions for the District 2 city council race.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration showing a pair of brass scales balancing geometric cubes, representing campaign fundraising figures. — Vamsi Velagapudi raised $12,670 in his Menlo Park City Council District 2 campaign, surpassing the $10,840 raised by Drew Combs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you feel campaign fundraising totals accurately reflect the support of residents in your local district?

Campaign finance filings show that Vamsi Velagapudi raised $12,670 in total funds for the Menlo Park City Council District 2 race. This total exceeds the $10,840 raised by incumbent opponent Drew Combs during the same period.

Why it matters

The fundraising gap highlights contrasting campaign support structures, as Velagapudi secured 94 individual contributions compared to 35 for Combs. These figures provide a window into the financial backing driving competition in this local election cycle.

Vamsi Velagapudi raised $12,670 through 94 contributions, while Drew Combs reported $10,840 across 35 individual contributions. Notably, Combs personally contributed $5,000 to his campaign effort after the primary filing period concluded.

The players

Vamsi Velagapudi

Vamsi Velagapudi is a candidate running for the Menlo Park City Council in District 2.

Drew Combs

Drew Combs is the current incumbent seeking re-election to the Menlo Park City Council in District 2.

AFSCME

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is a major public sector union that provides political support to candidates.

The details

Velagapudi bolstered his total with $3,000 received from two AFSCME-connected entities on September 22. Meanwhile, Combs and Velagapudi supplemented their campaigns with personal loans of $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.

Drew Combs unseated incumbent Kirsten Keith in the 2018 district election.
The campaign finance filing period officially concluded on September 19, 2026.
Velagapudi received $3,000 in union-connected donations on September 22, 2026.

Market Landscape

This race mirrors the competitive dynamics established by the 2018 Menlo Park District 2 election where incumbents were susceptible to being unseated. The current fundraising landscape reflects ongoing efforts by candidates to consolidate support within a specific city council district.

These disclosures provide voters with transparency regarding the financial influence backing each candidate in the upcoming District 2 election. Residents can use this information to better understand the professional and organizational ties associated with the individuals seeking their vote.

The takeaway

Candidates often balance individual small-dollar donations against personal contributions to maintain competitive fundraising totals. Voters should review these filings to gauge the level of grassroots versus institutional support for each campaign.