Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has thrown his weight behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the Democrat governor openly flirts with a future White House bid.
Hastings disclosed his support in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, signaling that Hollywoods donor class is already positioning itself for the post-Biden era, according to Breitbart. Gavin is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center, Hastings said, framing Newsom as the figure to unite an increasingly fractured Democrat coalition.
The tech billionaires endorsement marks a shift in his own political giving, as he previously backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race with a $1 million donation to Future Forward, a pro-Harris PAC. He also poured $2 million into Newsoms Prop. 50 redistricting campaign last year, calling himself a big fan of the governor and praising him as a gifted political strategist and a futurist, per the New York Post.
Hastings embrace of Newsom comes just weeks after he stepped down from Netflixs board, signaling his intention to move on from the streaming giant he co-founded with Ted Sarandos. My real contribution at Netflix wasnt a single decision; it was a focus on member joy, building a culture that others could inherit and improve, and building a company that could be both beloved by members and wildly successful for generations to come, Hastings said at the time.
Yet despite the enthusiasm from elite donors, Newsom still trails Harris among Democrat voters eyeing the 2028 field, as Breitbart News reported in April. An Echelon Insights poll conducted April 17-20 among 467 likely Democrat primary voters found former Vice President Kamala Harris leading the prospective field with 22 percent support, Breitbart News reported.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) followed at 21 percent, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg placed third at 12 percent. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) received 10 percent, it added. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) registered five percent, while Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) received four percent, underscoring that, for now, the Democrat bench remains crowded and firmly anchored to the left despite the wishes of wealthy coastal donors.
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