Meta launches Super PAC to influence California tech regulation and back AI-friendly candidates ahead of 2026 elections

• Meta is creating a California-based super PAC called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California (Meta California) to support state-level candidates from both parties who favor minimal regulation of AI and tech innovation.
• The PAC is expected to spend tens of millions of dollars, making Meta one of the state’s top political spenders ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race.
• Meta has already contributed over $219,000 this year to various political committees and individual candidates, including Republicans and Democrats running for key statewide offices.
• Meta is following the playbook of companies like Uber and Airbnb, which have used aggressive campaign-style spending to influence California policy. Airbnb alone put $15 million into its PAC this year.
• Other major tech figures and firms, including OpenAI’s Greg Brockman and VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, have launched a $100 million PAC network, Leading the Future, to counter AI safety regulation efforts and shape tech policy across multiple states.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to launch a powerful new super PAC aimed at bolstering candidates who favor a light-touch approach to tech regulation, especially in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI).

The super PAC, called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California or Meta California, will support state-level candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties, who champion innovation over stringent oversight. (Related: Meta acquires $14.8B stake in Scale AI as Zuckerberg pushes for AI supremacy.)

“Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress and put California’s technology leadership at risk,” said Meta Vice President of Public Policy Brian Rice, who is slated to head the PAC alongside fellow policy executive Greg Maurer. “This is why we are launching a California super PAC.”

The PAC is expected to spend “tens of millions” of dollars, elevating it to the ranks of California’s top political players. The initiative is seen as part of a broader strategy to defend Silicon Valley’s dominance amid growing national and state-level scrutiny of AI, social media and digital privacy practices. Additionally, this move positions Meta to become one of the most influential political spenders in the state ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.

The company has also backed individual candidates across the political spectrum, including Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) for lieutenant governor, State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) for state treasurer and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) for the Board of Equalization.

Overall, Meta’s political activity has already included more than $219,000 in campaign contributions this year, much of it directed toward political committees such as the Asian Pacific Islander Leadership PAC and Bay Area Legislative Leadership PAC.

Meta mirrors aggressive campaign-style spending of Uber and Airbnb

Super PACs – which Brighteon.AI’s Enoch describes as something that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money independently of political campaigns – have become increasingly common in tech-industry lobbying since court decisions in 2010 opened the door to less restricted campaign finance. Such committees are barred from directly coordinating with candidates, but their ability to fund advertising and other influence efforts gives them considerable clout.

In turn, tech giants like Uber and Airbnb have used aggressive campaign-style spending, which Meta mirrors, to sway Sacramento policy in recent years.

For instance, Airbnb, which has operated a California political action committee since 2021, has infused $15 million into its PAC this year alone, with plans to make “significant contributions” to 2026 candidates who support California’s tourism industry and policies that allow residents to rent out their homes.

Other tech-backed political groups are also on the rise, such as Leading the Future, a network supported by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, which recently announced $100 million to promote pro-AI candidates and policies. The group aims to serve as a “counterforce” to the growing AI safety movement in California and three other states, modeling itself after the crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake.

Fairshake made headlines for spending millions to sink the campaigns of tech skeptics like former California Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter. Leading the Future is being led by Fairshake spokesperson Josh Vlasto and Zac Moffatt, the founder of political consulting firm Targeted Victory.

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Sources include:

RT.com

Politico.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com