The Bad PlaceThe Guardian | Tech billionaires are spending unprecedented sums in California races. Experts say it’s the tip of the iceberg by Dara Kerr
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Tech billionaires are pouring unprecedented sums of money into California’s June 2 primary to shape the state’s political and regulatory future, funding candidates, ballot measures and super‑PACs at both state and local levels. Google co‑founder Sergey Brin has spent $66 million fighting a proposed billionaire tax, while crypto mogul Chris Larsen has contributed $26 million across multiple super‑PACs targeting races from the governor’s race—where Democrat Matt Mahan has received almost $50 million in tech donations—to legislative and municipal contests. Google and Meta have each added $5‑10 million to additional super‑PACs, and the industry’s lobbying spend in 2025 reached $39 million, surpassing oil and gas. Experts say this massive spending is an existential strategy to secure political influence that will protect and accelerate Silicon Valley’s growth, especially in artificial intelligence, warning that the disclosed spending likely represents only a fraction of the overall influence effort.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/01/tech-billionaires-california-elections
Tech billionaires are spending unprecedented sums in California races. Experts say it’s the tip of the iceberg
From Google co-founder Brin spending $82m to fight a billionaire tax to Google and Meta funding a joint Super Pac, Silicon Valley is engaged in an existential fight for its political power at home
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