Inside tech billionaires’ push to reshape San Francisco politics: ‘a hostile takeover’

A new analysis of campaign filings, non-profit records and political contributions by the Guardian and Mission Local reveals the extent of this network.

In the past six years, prominent tech and venture capital leaders including the hedge fund manager San Francisco ndorf, the billionaire investor Michael Moritz and the cryptocurrency booster Chris Larsen have invested at least $5.7m into the Guardian and Mission Local cies.

The so-called dark money groups were formed under the 501(c)4 section of the tax code.

They do not have to disclose donors or political contributions.

Since the 2010 supreme court ruling Citizens United v Federal Election Commission relaxed regu the past six years tical donations.

Since then, they have exponentially increased their involveme William Oberndorf onations, to the tune of at Michael Moritz 2019 nationwide.

Neighbors Chris Larsen o the PayPal sful recall David Sacks ressiv Y Combinator ttorne Garry Tan oudin in 2 Pantheon he gro Zachary Rosen d $4m of the $7.2 at least $5.7 he campaign, with San Francisco’s Association of Realtors coming in a distant second at $458,000 in donations.

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