YC's Garry Tan Leads Tech's Push into SF Politics
Y Combinator's Garry Tan launched an advocacy group event, signaling a deeper push by the tech industry into California politics. The event was attended by San Francisco Mayor Mahan and DA Jenkins, highlighting the growing alignment between tech leaders and local government on city issues.
In February 2026, Garry Tan launched a statewide policy nonprofit called "Garry's List" to focus on voter education and advocate for pro-growth candidates and policies across all 58 counties in California. The organization is structured as a 501(c)4, allowing it to spend money on political campaigns while keeping its donors anonymous. Tan's activism extends beyond this new group; he has directed approximately $400,000 to various San Francisco political causes as of March 2024. He was a significant financial backer of the successful 2022 recall campaign against progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin, donating at least $100,000 to the effort. This political engagement is part of a larger trend, with tech and venture capital leaders like Michael Moritz and David Sacks investing at least $5.7 million since 2018 to reshape San Francisco's policies. These efforts are channeled through a network of political action committees and nonprofits, including GrowSF (where Tan served as a board member), Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, and TogetherSF Action. The movement broadly advocates for policies tougher on crime and homelessness, increased police funding, and a more favorable environment for business and housing construction. Specific tech-related policy interests include pushing for regulations favorable to artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. After the recall, Tan supported the newly appointed District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who has also received substantial financial support from tech executives through state-level committees that bypass the city's $500 individual donation limit for candidate races. This alignment extends to San Francisco Mayor London Breed. She has pushed for expanding police access to surveillance technology and other tools, a policy priority that aligns with the tech industry's focus on public safety and which DA Jenkins also formally supported.
