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Silicon Valley’s attempt to propelMatt Mahan into the California governor’s officeis unraveling into a costly political lesson for the tech elite who believed a business-minded outsider could quickly reshape the state.
What began as an ambitious effort to install a centrist Democrat with deep ties to the tech world has instead exposed fractures between wealthy donors, political strategists, and corporate leaders who never fully united behind the first term San Jose mayor,Politico reported.
Mahan entered the race with significant hype.
The 43-year-old mayor built his profile as a former Teach for America instructor turned tech entrepreneur who later rose through Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem.
Before becoming mayor of San Jose, he worked at Causes, an early Facebook-connected nonprofit fundraising platform that eventually grew to nearly 190 million users.
He later co-founded Brigade Media, a civic engagement company backed by prominent investors including Sean Parker, Ron Conway and Marc Benioff.
His Silicon Valley pedigree stretched back even further.
While studying at Harvard University, Mahan was encouraged to pursue civic technology instead of law school by a friend who had beenroommates with Mark Zuckerberg.
Supporters believed that background made him the ideal candidate to bridge California’s political establishment and the innovation culture of the tech industry. Venture capitalists, executives andbillionaire donors lined up behind him, seeing an opportunity to elevate a pragmatic, business-friendly Democrat into statewide office.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
