Newsom joins fight against California voter ID measure as donors pour in
Gov. Gavin Newsom has joined the campaign against Proposition 39, a California ballot measure that would require voters to show ID at the polls. His move came as Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia gave $8 million to the measure. Backers have raised more than $36 million, far more than opponents, ahead of the Nov. 3 vote.
California's fight over voter ID is getting louder, and more expensive, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has joined the No on 39 campaign as an honorary co-chair, the campaign announced Wednesday. He plans to campaign hard against the measure, the New York Post reported. "Prop 39 is just their latest attempt to silence us, because they know they can't win in California in a fair fight," Newsom said in a statement.
Proposition 39 would require voters to show ID before casting a ballot in person. Mail ballots would need the last four digits of a government-issued ID number on the envelope. Today, California voters do not have to show ID at the polls. They give an ID number when they register.
The yes side has a big money lead. Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, now a Trump administration official, gave $8 million on Tuesday, both The Guardian and the Post reported. Gebbia once gave to Democrats such as Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
The campaign has raised more than $36 million in all, The Guardian reported, citing CalMatters. That includes $17 million from Illinois conservative donor Richard Uihlein. Crypto investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Nicole Shanahan have also given.
The Post reported that the main yes committee now has about $20.9 million on hand. The four committees against the measure had $8.4 million. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, have given $2.5 million to the no side.
Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio wrote the measure after state lawmakers rejected voter ID bills. He calls it a balanced approach that keeps mail-in voting. The state Democratic Party, the ACLU and the League of Women Voters oppose it. Xavier Becerra, Newsom's likely successor, is also a leader of the no campaign.
The polls point in different directions. A UC Berkeley poll showed the measure trailing by 13 points. A Mason-Dixon poll from late September had it ahead, 49% to 42%.
What we know: Backers of Prop 39 have far more money, and Newsom will campaign against it.
What we don't: Which way voters are leaning, with polls split.
Where outlets agree The Guardian and the New York Post both report that Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia gave $8 million to the campaign for Proposition 39.
Where they differ The Guardian reports a UC Berkeley poll showing Prop 39 trailing by 13 points, while the New York Post reports a Mason-Dixon poll showing it ahead 49% to 42%.