NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Tech companies spend millions on California political gifts

Gavin Newsom
Posted

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom solicited donations totaling nearly $227 million from Facebook, Google, Blue Shield and other private California companies and organizations to combat the pandemic and help run parts of his administration.

The report Thursday by the state’s political watchdog agency examines contributions solicited by an elected official to be given to another individual or organization.

Facebook contributed nearly $27 million to the Democratic governor’s causes, mostly for gift cards to nursing home workers. Blue Shield of California gave $20 million toward homeless programs. Those companies were the two top donors according to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Critics say that while the payments don’t directly benefit the politician, they can indirectly curry favor.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

01/31/2025

Partly Cloudy

64° / 44°

1%

Saturday

02/01/2025

Partly Cloudy

69° / 49°

1%

Sunday

02/02/2025

Sunny

74° / 49°

7%

Monday

02/03/2025

Cloudy

70° / 48°

3%

Tuesday

02/04/2025

PM Showers

68° / 50°

44%

Wednesday

02/05/2025

AM Showers

63° / 44°

39%

Thursday

02/06/2025

Mostly Sunny

65° / 43°

12%

Friday

02/07/2025

Partly Cloudy

61° / 41°

20%