- Trump or Harris? The US election campaign is dividing Silicon Valley.
After U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump received support from Silicon Valley, numerous tech investors are now backing his opponent, Kamala Harris. Under the name "VCs for Kamala," nearly 500 capital providers have signed a call urging people to vote and support Harris. Signatories include LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, Mark Cuban, co-owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, and billionaire Chris Sacca.
Meanwhile, hundreds of employees from Silicon Valley companies have signed the "Tech for Kamala" list, also rallying for the current vice president. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings had previously donated $7 million to a committee supporting Harris.
These calls are part of Harris' growing campaign and also indicate a divide within California's traditionally more democratically inclined tech hub. The open support of several industry giants for Donald Trump has caused significant stir in recent weeks. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, legendary investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, and technology entrepreneur David Sacks have all publicly backed the former president.
Now, a counter-movement to this trend is emerging. It may gain momentum because Harris is from California and launched her political career as attorney general and senator there. Although Harris has clashed with some Silicon Valley companies on consumer issues, she is generally seen as favorable to the industry.
The investors' call also reflects expectations tied to Harris' likely candidacy. "We stand for the economy, for the American dream, for entrepreneurship, and for technological progress," it states. "But we also believe in democracy as the backbone of our nation. Strong, credible institutions are a feature, not a bug. Our industry - and every other industry - would crumble without them." It's a clear reference to Republican Trump, who has repeatedly questioned the credibility of elections and the independence of the judiciary in his statements.
Despite Elon Musk and other tech influencers supporting Donald Trump, many investors from Silicon Valley prefer to endorse Kamala Harris. This group, known as "VCs for Kamala," includes prominent figures like LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and Mark Cuban, urging voters to support Harris' campaign.
Additionally, several Silicon Valley employees have joined the "Tech for Kamala" list, demonstrating a shift in support towards the current vice president, despite previous disagreements with Harris on consumer issues.
