Sergey Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, is emerging as a major financier in California’s gubernatorial race, throwing his weight behind competing candidates just months after moving his primary residence out of the state.
Brin recently contributed $39,200 to the campaign of former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton, a Republican and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron who is running to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to a new campaign filing.
Brin has also backed one of Hilton’s opponents in the race, centrist Democrat Matt Mahan. On Monday, Brin donated $1 million to an independent committee supporting Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, following a smaller contribution made in February.
Brin recently high-tailed it from California to a Nevada residence near Lake Tahoe following a proposal by a health-care workers union to impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of California’s billionaires. Brin’s fortune is estimated at nearly $245 billion.
Both Hilton and Mahan have opposed the billionaire tax, which must still gather sufficient signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
Brin has also contributed $20 million to a newly formed pro-business political organization, Building a Better California. The group is spending heavily to combat the proposed wealth tax.
Representatives for Brin and Hilton didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The California race features eight Democrats and two Republicans. In California, the two candidates receiving the most votes in the June primary advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
A February survey by Emerson College found Hilton leading with 17% support, followed by Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Chad Bianco, each at 14%.
Other tech titans are hedging their political bets. Venture capitalist and Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale has backed both Mahan and Hilton. Crypto entrepreneur Chris Larsen has helped bankroll Hilton as well as Democratic candidate Katie Porter.
California hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in January 2011.
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