Key facts
- Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia donated $8 million to the campaign for California's Proposition 39.
- Proposition 39 would require voters to present government-issued identification to vote in person or provide a government ID number when voting by mail.
- The measure is backed by prominent California Republicans and supporters of President Trump.
- Opponents, including civil rights groups, argue the measure could disenfranchise eligible voters.
- Richard Uihlein has donated $17 million to the Proposition 39 campaign.
- Supporters claim the measure is necessary to prevent voter fraud, while opponents argue fraud is rare and the measure is unnecessary.
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia has contributed $8 million to the campaign supporting Proposition 39, a California ballot measure that would require voters to present government-issued identification to cast a ballot. This donation is Gebbia's largest to a California political campaign and signals a shift in his political leanings, having previously identified as a Democrat but now stating he voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
The committee behind the measure, Californians for Voter ID, has also received substantial funding from other prominent conservative figures. Illinois billionaire Richard Uihlein has donated $17 million, and businessman Steven Bray loaned the campaign over $3 million and gave an additional $50,000. Other major donors include tech entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and Nicole Shanahan, former presidential running mate to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Combined, these contributions have helped the campaign raise over $28 million.
Supporters of Proposition 39 argue that requiring voter identification is essential for election security and to prevent fraud, drawing parallels to needing ID for activities like flying or purchasing alcohol. They also note that 36 other states have similar voter ID requirements. Currently, California voters need identification to register but not to vote in person or by mail. If passed, Proposition 39 would mandate in-person voters show ID and mail-in voters provide a government ID number matching their registration.
Opponents, including the state's Democratic establishment and civil rights groups like Common Cause and the California League of Women Voters, contend that the measure is unnecessary and would disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those from minority groups, low-income individuals, or those who have recently moved or changed their names. They argue that voter fraud is rare and that California already has sufficient measures to verify voter eligibility. The initiative is being spearheaded by Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio through his group Reform California.