Meet the Silicon Valley Donors Backing California’s Redistricting Push

Within the newest signal that Silicon Valley titans are more and more throwing their weight behind political points, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has contributed $2 million to help Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 marketing campaign.

The transfer is the most recent underscoring how Silicon Valley’s deep-pocketed executives are more and more wielding affect in California politics and past.

The November poll measure would scrap California’s unbiased redistricting fee, returning map-drawing authority to the state legislature, the place Democrats maintain agency majorities.

Backers argue the change would counterbalance GOP-led gerrymanders in states like Texas and Florida, probably netting Democrats half a dozen U.S. Home seats in 2026.

Hastings’ donation highlights the growing role of tech fortunes in political fights. The Netflix co-founder has lengthy been a high-profile donor, beforehand giving $3 million to Newsom’s 2021 recall protection. He has additionally funded statewide schooling reform initiatives and donated closely to nationwide Democratic causes.

Different Silicon Valley figures are becoming a member of him

Ron Conway, one of many Valley’s most prolific angel buyers, has pledged help, and Y Combinator’s Paul Graham gave $500,000. Their involvement echoes a broader development: Tech executives are more and more channeling private wealth into shaping coverage outcomes, usually by means of poll measures the place their {dollars} can have an outsized influence.

California has been a testing floor for such efforts.

In 2020, Uber, Lyft and DoorDash collectively spent greater than $200 million to go Proposition 22, rolling again state labor guidelines that threatened their enterprise fashions. Extra lately, enterprise capital and crypto executives have funded campaigns to withstand new taxes and laws.

Tech cash is more and more flowing into politics

The sample isn’t restricted to California. On the nationwide stage, expertise cash has turn into a significant pressure in politics.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former crypto billionaire, spent more than $40 million on congressional races in 2022 earlier than his collapse. Some estimates put his complete political contributions at greater than $70 million throughout 18 months, reflecting his ambition to exert affect on the federal stage

Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet stay amongst the top corporate spenders on lobbying in Washington. These interventions have helped shape debates starting from antitrust reform to AI regulation.

According to Axios, within the first quarter of 2025, Meta spent $8 million lobbying, adopted by Amazon at $4.3 million, with Microsoft at $2.4 million. OpenSecrets reports Amazon’s complete federal lobbying for 2025 (first half) at $9.35 million, and Alphabet (Google’s mum or dad) at round $7.81 million

For critics, Proposition 50 represents one other occasion of rich tech donors tilting the political enjoying discipline.

Opponents, together with GOP donor Charles Munger Jr., who has already dedicated $10 million to defeat it, say dismantling the unbiased redistricting system voters accepted in 2008 is a unadorned energy seize. Former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy has also jumped into the fray, casting the measure as an effort by Democrats and their Silicon Valley allies to “rig the map.”

Are Silicon Valley tycoons the kingmakers but?

What makes the combat particularly vital is its nationwide influence.

California, with 52 Home seats, stays the largest single prize in congressional redistricting. Even a small shift in district strains might decide management of the Home in 2026. For Democrats, aligning with rich tech donors gives a method to maintain tempo with Republican fundraising networks which have lengthy used redistricting to their benefit.

Whether or not Hastings and his friends can sway voters stays unsure. Early polls present Californians cut up on Proposition 50, reflecting skepticism about giving lawmakers extra management. However the torrent of Silicon Valley cash ensures that by November, voters can be listening to arguments on either side at near-constant quantity.

If profitable, the marketing campaign would additional cement Silicon Valley not solely as an financial powerhouse but additionally as a decisive political participant, with ambitions that stretch far past California’s borders.