California Apartment Association Targets San Diego Candidate

The group has spent nearly $77,000 on political mailers and polling to oppose Councilmember Henry Foster III.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Apartments

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a municipal building facade, evoking the influence of industry committees on city election policy. — The California Apartment Association has directed nearly $77,000 toward political efforts to unseat San Diego Councilmember Henry Foster III following local business contributions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The California Apartment Association has directed nearly $77,000 toward efforts to unseat San Diego Councilmember Henry Foster III since mid-October. This expenditure follows a surge in contributions to the group's political committees from local business interests.

Why it matters

The association opposes Councilmember Foster due to his involvement in a city trash fee error. This spending highlights how industry-backed political committees are increasingly influencing local San Diego municipal elections.

Major real estate contributors have funneled millions into the association this year, including $1.84 million from Equity Residential, $1.78 million from Essex Property Trust, and $1.65 million from AvalonBay Communities.

The players

Henry Foster III

He is a San Diego City Councilmember currently facing opposition from industry groups over his policy record.

California Apartment Association

This is a statewide trade organization representing rental housing owners, developers, and property managers.

Equity Residential

This is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns and operates apartment buildings across the United States.

Essex Property Trust

This is a real estate investment trust that focuses on apartment communities primarily located in West Coast markets.

AvalonBay Communities

This is a real estate investment trust that develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily apartment homes.

The details

Local business groups, including the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown San Diego Partnership, funneled a combined $45,000 into the association's committees during the first 17 days of October. These funds are used to finance campaign polling and political mailers targeted at voters in the district.

Between October 1 and October 17, 2026, business groups donated $45,000 to association committees.
The California Apartment Association began spending $77,000 against Henry Foster III on October 16, 2026.

Culture Shift

This activity aligns with the trend of independent expenditure committees driving local campaign narratives. These vehicles allow significant industry capital to influence municipal outcomes beyond traditional donation limits.

Residents may see an increase in political mailers and advertising in their mailboxes leading up to the election. These campaign materials directly influence voter awareness of specific candidates and local policy controversies like the trash fee error.

The takeaway

Voters should be aware that significant amounts of campaign literature are often funded by large corporate entities rather than local residents. Examining committee disclosures helps clarify which interests are financing the messaging reaching your front door.