Lincoln Club chair donates to Gloria's campaign while group gets $1M for Turner

• Voice of San Diego reported it would be used against Mayor Todd Gloria's re-election bid.

Why it matters: Richter's donation would bring financial parity to a mayoral race in which Gloria enjoyed a massive advantage against first-time candidate Larry Turner.

• Gloria's campaign has spent about $250,000 this year, and has just over $340,000 in the bank.
• Turner has raised less than $80,000.

Between the lines: Mike Turk, a developer and chair of the Lincoln Club PAC, told Axios it was premature to say the money would go to hurting Gloria and boosting Turner, saying only that it would go to "the club's priorities."

• But several sources familiar with the situation confirmed Voice's reporting that all or most of it would go to the mayoral race. The club has already endorsed Turner, but it has not formed a specific committee for the race.

The intrigue: Turk and his wife each made maximum campaign donations to Gloria earlier this month.

• "He's always been kind and supportive," Turk, who just had a housing project in Ocean Beach rejected by the planning commission, said of Gloria. "He told me I had a good project and he couldn't understand why they turned it down."

Zoom in: Richter has a slim history as a donor. In June, he and his wife each donated the maximum-allowed $1,350 to Turner.

• In the 2020 mayoral campaign, Richter made three donations totaling $1,100 to former Democratic Councilmember Barbara Bry when she ran against Gloria for mayor.
• Richter did not respond to our calls or emails seeking comment on his decision to become a major financial player in the race.

Catch up quick: The Lincoln Club is a conservative, pro-business organization that is active in local politics.

• It currently sponsors an independent committee opposing County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer's re-election bid and supporting her opponent, former Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
• Independent committees are not subject to local campaign contribution limits set for candidate-controlled committees, but they also cannot coordinate with candidates.

The other side: Jen Tierney, Gloria's campaign consultant, said she is confident the $1 million donation will be matched in spending by their campaign, the Democratic Party and others "who care about keeping city government out of the hands of the far right."

• "This is being coordinated by the Lincoln Club, who brags about meeting with JD Vance on social media," she said.

It's impossible to specify how much outside money is available to Gloria, since groups that support him can spend from their general accounts on his behalf.

• The San Diego County Democratic Party, for instance, had $1.6 million in the bank this summer, and can spend as it wishes communicating with registered Democrats.
• Gloria likewise has support from labor groups, the Asian Business Association Candidate PAC and other pro-business groups that can raise and spend money beyond the city's contribution limits.

What's next: Tom Shepard, the campaign consultant who the Union-Tribune called "the kingmaker" in 2006, strongly refuted speculation that he has been brought on to coordinate the anti-Gloria spending.

• "I have not been hired and I will not do any work for that campaign," Shepard told Axios.
• Shepard ran three successful Republican mayoral campaigns before helping disgraced Mayor Bob Filner win in 2012. He's largely worked for Democrats since.