Mayor Ed Lee sailed to victory spending the most cash of any other candidate in the mayor’s race.

As of Wednesday, reported spending to elect Lee to a four-year term totaled $2,682,859, which includes his campaign spending and those of third-parties groups, according to the Ethics Commission.

Lee received 48,846 of voters’ first choice votes, about 32 percent of the turnout, as of Wednesday’s tally. That breaks down to $54.92 per vote. Lee’s personal campaign reported spending $1.7 million as of Nov. 1.

Candidates who could not reach these numbers relied on The City’s public finance program, which was meant to help grass roots candidates compete in elections against candidates like Lee who are strongly backed by downtown interests with deep pockets.

Candidates who use public financing agree to not spend more than $1.475 million, which includes a match of $900,000 in public funds. None of the nine candidates who used public financing raised enough money to receive the full $900,000 match. The program has caused some criticism for the candidates who received very few first choice votes.

jsabatini@sfexaminer.com