Netflix Co-Founder Donates $2 Million to California Redistricting Effort

Netflix co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings has donated $2 million to support California Governor Gavin Newsom's controversial plan to redraw the state's congressional maps, a move aimed at countering redistricting efforts in Texas and potentially flipping several Republican seats to Democratic control. This donation is part of a larger campaign, Proposition 50, which has attracted significant funding from prominent Democrats and Silicon Valley figures, including venture capitalist Ron Conway and Y Combinator founder Paul Graham. Hastings, a major Democratic donor who previously contributed $3 million to help Newsom win a recall election, emphasizes the importance of fighting what he sees as Republican attempts to rig elections. The redistricting effort has become a focal point in California politics, drawing national attention and substantial financial contributions on both sides, including opposition funding exceeding $10 million. Critics argue that such political involvement by corporate figures like Hastings undermines democratic processes, while supporters defend it as necessary to protect electoral fairness against partisan gerrymandering. Californians will vote on this ballot initiative in November, with the outcome expected to have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress.