Oakland nonprofit TechEquity Action is planning a statewide advertising campaign this fall, drawing attention to the role of technology money in Sacramento elections.
Tech-backed super PACs have already poured more than $25 million into down-ballot state legislative races, according to The San Francisco Standard. The Standard reported that TechEquity Action plans to use mailers, digital videos and social media influencer posts. Much of the PAC spending has gone to centrist-leaning Democrats facing more progressive opponents.
Catherine Bracy, who is leading the effort, told The San Francisco Standard that tech donors are spending heavily to make policymakers ignore public outcry over AI-driven job losses, algorithmic surveillance pricing and data centers. She said the campaign is intended to call attention to tech interests' spending to influence policymaking in Sacramento.
A New Front for Silicon Valley Money
Tech groups have spent money on California state legislative campaigns during the 2026 election cycle, including in the June primary.
Grow California, bankrolled by San Francisco crypto executive Chris Larsen and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, spent nearly $14.5 million in the June primary alone. Larsen and Draper seeded the PAC with initial $5 million checks each in late 2025, and Larsen has indicated he may contribute up to $30 million over multiple election cycles, according to TradingView. A separate committee, California Leads, received initial $5 million contributions from Meta and Google, per CalMatters.
Tech and cryptocurrency firms spent over $39 million to influence California state politics in 2025 alone through campaign contributions, lobbying and lawmaker-requested charitable donations, the same outlet reported. According to the Times of San Diego, a proposed wealth tax backed by a healthcare union became a rallying point for tech billionaires.
Tech Money in State Races
TechEquity Action's ads focus on tech interests' spending amid fights over AI regulation, data-center development and other technology issues. The campaign is statewide, spanning the Bay Area to Orange County. In Marin County's Assembly District 12, Grow California and other tech PACs are supporting Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan against Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward.
Out in West Los Angeles County's State Senate District 24, tech money backed Brian Goldsmith against West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson. Goldsmith spent nearly $2.5 million in the primary compared with Erickson's $518,000, yet Erickson finished first with 20.5% of the vote to Goldsmith's 18.3%, per CalMatters' voter guide data. And in Downtown Los Angeles's open Senate District 26, which became available after outgoing Senator María Elena Durazo chose not to run again, Sara Hernandez, president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board, is running against Sarah Rascón; both Democrats advanced from the June primary, according to the Larchmont Chronicle.
The Campaign's Focus
Both Grow California and California Leads declined to comment on TechEquity Action's ad campaign. The advertising effort focuses on tech interests' spending in state legislative races.
The fight is unfolding after the California Legislature concluded its 2026 session on August 31. Lawmakers considered AI measures this year, according to Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. TechEquity Action, an Oakland nonprofit, is directing its new ad push at voters in these four districts amid debates over technology policy in Sacramento.
Policy debates beyond the campaign
A California Senate committee analysis described SB 1168 as addressing grid upgrade costs, while SB 886 and SB 887 addressed wildfire costs; the text of SB 833 proposed requiring entities whose conduct could materially affect critical-infrastructure safety, security or operations to report defined AI adverse events. Separately, the Los Angeles Times reported on March 27, 2026, that Imperial County residents packed a supervisors’ meeting over plans for a data center that had not undergone a state environmental review. That was a local development dispute, distinct from TechEquity Action’s legislative advertising campaign.
