Elk Grove Councilmember Darren Suen Amasses $194K Campaign Chest Midway Through Term
Is Suen aiming to move off the backbench of the Elk Grove City Council?
Even though he's only halfway through his current four-year term, Elk Grove District 1 City Councilmember Darren Sue is doing that thing he does so well - tapping his political patrons for more campaign cash.
That is the finding of an audit of Mr. Suen's California Form 460 filed with the Elk Grove City Clerk's office. For the six months ending December 31, 2026, Suen accepted $17,650 in cash, bringing his annual haul to $52,100, including $4,200 in non-financial contributions.
Among the noteworthy contributions Suen received in the sixth month period are the following, with cumulative figures following:
- Senator Angelique Ashby - $1,000
- Sally Guttridge - $1,500
- Intl. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 340 - $5,900 ($6,900)
- Mary Yn Liu, McDonald's franchisee - $250 ($750)
- Anthony Ortiz, Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney - $100
- Sacramento Builder Exchange - $500
- Frank Strathos, Real Estate Developer - $5,900
- PG&E Employee PAC - $450
- C.C. Yin, McDonald's franchisee - $500
With these additions, Suen entered 2026 with $194,336. Even though Suen has never faced a viable challenger since his 2015 appointment to the city council, he has been a voracious fundraiser.
Suen unsuccessfully challenged Steve Ly for the mayor's seat in 2018. Notwithstanding that he was not challenged in 2024, Suen is rumored to harbor ambitions for an elected position higher than being on the political backbench of the Elk Grove City Council.
