Major Donor Seeks $1 Million Refund Amid Closure of Pro-Matt Mahan Committee

With the California primary just around the corner, things are heating up in the race for governor. Mayor Matt Mahan from San Jose, the late-entry candidate, has found himself in a bit of a tough spot with one of his major donor committees shutting down. Not only that, but Reed Hastings, the Chair of Netflix, is asking for a $1 million refund from another committee supporting Mahan. This move suggests that support for Mahan may be dwindling as we get closer to election day.

Mahan, who only joined the race in late January, had an uphill battle ahead of him with many voters unfamiliar with his name outside of the Bay Area. Despite significant financial support from tech leaders like Sergey Brin and Roblox CEO David Baszucki, Mahan has had trouble gaining traction. Recent polls indicate that his support has dropped from 7% to 4%, according to the California Democratic Party’s latest tracking poll.

The closure of the Deliver for Mahan committee and Hastings’ refund request from the Back to Basics committee could be a significant blow to Mahan’s campaign. Political experts suggest that these recent developments could signal trouble for the mayor’s chances in the primary. Hastings, a known donor to Democratic causes, has previously supported candidates like Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom, making his refund request all the more consequential.

These recent happenings raise questions about the mayor’s fundraising efforts. Earlier this year, donors were told they needed to raise $35 million quickly to make Mahan competitive in the race. Failed to do so by April 17, donors were promised their money back. Whether or not Hastings’ refund is connected to this effort remains unclear.

While the Back to Basics group reported raising a substantial amount of money this year, recent polling has not been favorable to Mahan. With less than two weeks until the primary, the future of his campaign remains uncertain. Despite efforts to revitalize his image, the uphill battle may prove to be too steep for Mayor Matt Mahan.