The 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

#SergeyBrin #ChrisLarsen #MattMahan #technology #uspolitics

World & Nation | Record-setting outside money pouring into California governor's race by Seema Mehta

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Outside groups have poured a record‑shattering $79.6 million into the 2026 California governor’s race, dwarfing the $78,400 limit on direct contributions and underscoring the power of independent‑expenditure committees unleashed by the Citizens United decision. Billionaire Tom Steyer, who has self‑funded $212 million of his campaign, is the primary target of $32.3 million in attack ads from donors such as PG&E, the California Chamber of Commerce and the Realtors’ association, while receiving modest support from groups like the California Nurses Association. Former Biden cabinet member Xavier Becerra has attracted over $13 million in outside backing, including a $500,000 Chevron contribution to an independent committee, sparking accusations of “dark money” from Steyer’s camp. San José mayor Matt Mahan, a moderate Democrat with roughly $21.7 million in pro‑candidate spending from Silicon‑Valley figures, remains stuck in the single‑digit polling range, whereas Republican Steve Hilton, the lone GOP frontrunner, faces $1.8 million in opposition spending. The surge in unaffiliated financing—driven by corporations, labor unions, tech firms, tribal groups and wealthy individuals—has made outside money the decisive force shaping messaging, attacks, and the overall dynamics of California’s most expensive gubernatorial contest.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-26/record-setting-outside-money-pouring-into-california-governors-race

#TomSteyer #XavierBecerra #MattMahan #SteveHilton #CitizensUnited

#Netflix chairman #ReedHastings demanded #SanJose Mayor #MattMahan return a $1 million donation made just 5 days earlier to Mahan's struggling CA gubernatorial campaign.

Did this have to do with an #ethics complaint that was filed alleging possible illegal coordination between Mahan's campaign and a deep pocketed #PAC?

Newly filed campaign finance report for “California Back to Basics Supporting Matt Mahan for Governor 2026” #PAC shows Reed Hastings contributed $1 million to a Mahan connected "independent expenditure committee" on May 15 — only to want the generous campaign cash back just 5 days later.

No direct link between the complaint and the refund has been confirmed, nor public explanation for why Hastings demanded his moolah back less than a wk after giving it — only that the million $ was returned quickly, while Mahan's #BigTech sponsored #campaign has not resonated across #California as much as deep pocketed #siliconvalley $ supporters had initially hoped.

Big tech money had flooded Mahan's coffers early , including $1 million from Airbnb and $950,000 from Zuggerfugger's #Meta — now as voting has already begun, safe $ seems to flow in the direction of former #JoeBiden cabinet member #XavierBecerra, current #Democrat party primary frontrunner.

https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-mayors-bid-for-ca-governor-fizzles-out/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/pro-mahan-pac-shuts-down-013840558.html

California Governor Candidates Signal Agreement On Saving Hollywood, But Spend Much Of CNN Debate Sparring And Interrupting
#News #Politics #2026election #AntonioVillaraigosa #Californiagovernor #Californiagubernatorialdebate #ChadBianco #CNN #Katieporter #MattMahan #SteveHilton #TomSteyer #XavierBecerra

https://deadline.com/2026/05/california-governor-debate-cnn-hollywood-1236882394/

The Nerd Reich | Palantir for Governor? by Gil Duran

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The article examines why tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale—known for extremist statements and support of former President Trump—has become the top donor to San José Mayor Matt Mahan’s bid for California governor. Lonsdale contributed the maximum $78,400, outspending even right‑wing candidates, while Mahan, a newcomer with only a mayoral résumé, has attracted a cascade of Silicon‑Valley money from figures such as Sergey Brin, Y Combinator’s Garry Tan, Michael Seibel, Marc Merrill, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund partner Brian Singerman, and executives from Anduril. The piece argues that Mahan, though running as a Democrat, serves the interests of right‑leaning tech oligarchs, advocating “back‑to‑basics” policies that threaten the poor and oppose progressive initiatives like a billionaire wealth tax. By funding a Democratic candidate with conservative policy leanings, these billionaires aim to capture the governor’s office despite California’s long‑standing Republican drought, highlighting a broader strategy of tech money reshaping state politics.

Read more: https://www.thenerdreich.com/palantir-for-governor/

#JoeLonsdale #MattMahan #Palantir #GavinNewsom #JamesRolph #SteveHilton #GarryTan #SergeyBrin #MichaelSeibel #MarcMerrill #BrianSingerman #DavidMarcus

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The Nerd Reich | Nerd Reich Comes For California by Gil Duran

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The piece announces a live conversation with Jacob Silverman scheduled for Friday, February 13 at noon Pacific time, providing a direct link (passcode 111 if needed) for participants, and notes that any technical issues will be updated. It also references a recent discussion with Wajahat Ali about Silicon Valley’s effort to sway California’s governor’s race by financially backing San José Mayor Matt Mahan—a right‑leaning Democrat whose backers include Palantir billionaire Joe Lonsdale—highlighting how tech oligarchs who support Trump are also trying to co‑opt the Democratic Party.

Read more: https://www.thenerdreich.com/nerd-reich-comes-for-california/

#JacobSilverman #WajahatAli #Palantir #DemocraticParty #SiliconValley #MattMahan #JoeLonsdale

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Hollywood Jobs Crisis Becomes Focus of Governor’s Race as Candidates Offer Incentive Hike
#Variety #News #AntonioVillaraigosa #KatiePorter #MattMahan #TomSteyer #XavierBecerra

https://variety.com/2026/politics/news/hollywood-jobs-crisis-governor-race-incentives-hike-1236725680/