Reed Hastings Donates $2 Million to California Redistricting Campaign, Following $3 Million Recall Defense

San Francisco, CA – Reed Hastings, co-founder and chairman of Netflix, has contributed $2 million to support Governor Gavin Newsom's redistricting campaign in California. This recent donation extends Hastings's significant financial backing for Newsom, notably following his $3 million contribution to Newsom's anti-recall campaign in 2021.

The latest contribution, disclosed in recent financial filings, aligns Hastings with Newsom's efforts to redraw congressional maps in California. This initiative is positioned by the Democratic governor as a countermeasure to similar redistricting actions in other states, such as Texas. A top Democratic donor stated, > "When Texas moves to change the rules to rig the midterm elections and keep one political party in power forever, California must step up and fight fire with fire."

Hastings was previously the single largest individual donor to Governor Newsom's fight against the 2021 recall effort. His $3 million check played a crucial role in the "Stop The Republican Recall" campaign, which ultimately saw Newsom successfully retain his position. The recall election, held in September 2021, saw Newsom prevail with 61.88% of the vote against the recall.

The tweet content highlighted the substantial nature of these donations, posing the question, > "Anyone wonder what he gets in return?" Hastings is a long-standing supporter of Democratic causes and has a history of major political contributions in California, including significant funding for education reform and charter schools. His past political activities include a $7 million contribution in 2018 to support Antonio Villaraigosa against Newsom in the gubernatorial primary, though he later reconciled with Newsom.

California's ballot measure campaigns often involve considerable spending due to the absence of limits on individual donations and the extensive resources required to reach voters across the state. The current battle over House maps is expected to be particularly costly, with millions already pouring in from various donors and political action committees on both sides.