Employees from major U.S. tech companies are showing strong support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to donation data, even as prominent tech billionaires back her Republican rival, Donald Trump.
Data compiled by OpenSecrets reveals that workers from Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft have contributed millions to Harris’s campaign, far surpassing the donations to Trump. This includes contributions from employees, owners, and their immediate family members.
Despite this, influential tech figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Andreessen Horowitz co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz are supporting Trump, citing his policies on the economy and business as key factors.
The upcoming presidential election has divided Silicon Valley, historically known for its Democratic leanings. Venture capitalist Reid Hoffman and entrepreneur Mark Cuban are among those supporting Harris, hoping for policies favoring abortion rights and technological advancement.
However, some tech leaders have criticized President Joe Biden’s business policies, including his stance on mergers and data privacy, contributing to the complex political landscape within the industry.
While corporations cannot directly donate to presidential campaigns, their employees can. Alphabet employees and their families have donated $2.16 million to Harris, nearly 40 times more than Trump’s campaign has received from the same group. Amazon and Microsoft employees have contributed $1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, to Harris.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign has garnered $116,000 from Amazon workers and $88,000 from Microsoft workers. Walmart workers have contributed similarly to both candidates, with Trump receiving slightly more.
Corporate employees from tech firms generally have higher disposable incomes compared to those in retail, such as Walmart, which influences their donation capacity. Amazon’s corporate employees earn an average of $133,000 annually, compared to Walmart’s $85,000.
Meta and Apple employees have also donated significantly more to Harris compared to Trump, continuing the trend of tech workers favoring the Democratic candidate. Silicon Valley’s support for Harris reflects a broader trend of backing pro-innovation policies.
