The filings show venture capitalist and San Francisco Standard founder Michael Mortiz, his wife Harriet Heyman, former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt and Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill among the latest Silicon Valley elites<\/a> who maxed out contributions at $78,400 each to Mahan\u2019s campaign. Other major donors include LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who gave $39,200, and YCombinator managing partner Harjeet Taggar, who gave $50,000.<\/p>\n The filings also show the Govern for California network \u2014 a statewide special interest group largely funded by Bay Area venture capitalists and tech executives \u2014 donated $300,000 to Mahan\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cHis initial fundraising is enough to put him in the race, especially with so many candidates and no clear front runner,\u201d Terry Christensen, a San Jose State University political science professor emeritus, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cNow it will depend on how effectively he spends his millions and whether there\u2019s more to follow. Quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n The funding flush comes as recent polls have put Mahan toward the back of the crowded pool of candidates seeking the governor\u2019s mansion in Sacramento.<\/p>\n An independent poll of 1,000 voters by Emerson College<\/a>, released Wednesday, showed Mahan with 3.4% of voter support. That puts him behind six other candidates, with Republican political pundit Steve Hilton leading at 17%, followed by Congressman Eric Swalwell and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco tied at 14%, former Congresswoman Katie Porter at 10%, billionaire Tom Steyer at 9%, and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra at 3.5%.<\/p>\n Adrian Rafizadeh<\/a>, Mahan\u2019s campaign manager, is undeterred.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though his campaign is now just a couple weeks old, we are continuing to build more momentum every day,\u201d Rafizadeh told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cIt is clear that as more voters learn about Mayor Mahan\u2019s record and his practical approach to lowering housing and energy costs, bringing our unsheltered neighbors indoors and lifting up every public school that they will continue to join his campaign to get state government back to basics.\u201d<\/p>\n Closer to home, a poll by Santa Clara County public employee union AFSCME Local 101 similarly put Mahan near the bottom of the field at 2% to 3% voter support.<\/p>\n AFSCME Local 101 spokesperson John Tucker said there\u2019s a disconnect between donor enthusiasm and voter enthusiasm.<\/p>\n \u201cMoney can amplify a campaign, but it can\u2019t manufacture broad support,\u201d Tucker told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cFrom the perspective of the city workers, we\u2019re facing deep budget shortfalls<\/a>, hiring freezes and real conversations about service cuts. Departments are stretched thin, and residents are already feeling it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tucker said it will be hard for Mahan to reconcile that reality with a full-scale campaign for higher office.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the city is struggling to maintain core services, that\u2019s where Mahan\u2019s focus should be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Keep](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769027829_854_interactive-184632509590.png\")
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