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

Monday

12/29/2025

Partly Cloudy

-° / 40°

8%

Tuesday

12/30/2025

Mostly Cloudy

53° / 45°

24%

Wednesday

12/31/2025

Rain

53° / 50°

83%

Thursday

01/01/2026

Partly Cloudy

60° / 50°

7%

Friday

01/02/2026

Showers

63° / 54°

40%

Saturday

01/03/2026

Cloudy

59° / 49°

24%

Sunday

01/04/2026

Mostly Cloudy

59° / 47°

9%

Monday

01/05/2026

Partly Cloudy

57° / 47°

24%