Story perspectives

Billionaire Trump Allies Fund CA Voter-ID, Support Plummets

7/14/2026

Left

Billionaires Fund Voter-ID

Billionaires with recent U.S. President Donald Trump ties are financing the California voter-ID ballot measure.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio introduced Proposition 39, a voter-ID measure, which qualified for the November 2026 California ballot.
Richard Uihlein, the Winklevoss twins and capitalists contributed over $10 million to Californians for Voter ID.
A Berkeley poll showed support dropped from 56 % to 39 % after voters learned the funders.

Right

Fishback’s Cross-Funding

Donors backing far-right Florida gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback also gave sizable sums to progressive candidates criticizing Israel recently.
Billionaires with recent U.S. President Donald Trump ties are financing the California voter-ID ballot measure currently statewide.
New York financier Amed Khan gave Fishback the $3,000 maximum contribution recently as reported.
His donations also went to pro-Palestinian groups and Democratic candidates alike according to statements.

Blindspot

Right coverage emphasised that donors backing far-right Florida gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback also gave sizable sums to progressive candidates and pro-Palestinian groups, an angle not present in Left coverage.
Right coverage highlighted a donation-limit breach by physician Mohamad Naem, prompting a refund, which Left coverage did not address.

History

Historical Context

The 2010 Citizens United ruling eliminated limits on corporate and union independent expenditures, and the same year SpeechNow.org created unlimited-fund super PACs. Outside spending rose from $574 million in 2008 to $1.3 billion in 2012 and $3.3 billion by 2020, channeling money from donors such as the Koch brothers and DeVos family into state races like California’s Proposition 39 and Florida’s gubernatorial contest.

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Billionaires Fund Voter-ID

Billionaires with recent U.S. President Donald Trump ties are financing the California voter-ID ballot measure.
Assemblymember Carl DeMaio introduced Proposition 39, a voter-ID measure, which qualified for the November 2026 California ballot.
Richard Uihlein, the Winklevoss twins and capitalists contributed over $10 million to Californians for Voter ID.
A Berkeley poll showed support dropped from 56 % to 39 % after voters learned the funders.

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