Tech Industry’s Support for Vice President Kamala Harris: Where She Stands on AI, Big Tech, and Crypto

Vice President Kamala Harris Emerges as Front-Runner for Democratic Presidential Nomination

Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to secure the Democratic presidential nomination after Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 race on Sunday. Harris wasted no time in making her mark, raising a record $81 million and garnering enough delegates to clinch the nomination within 24 hours of Biden’s exit.

Harris, a former attorney-general of California and senator since 2017, has deep ties to the tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley. Born in Oakland, she has strong connections and influential friends in the Bay Area, including attending the wedding of former Facebook president Sean Parker in 2013 and having her brother-in-law, Tony West, serve as the chief legal officer for Uber.

While some tech leaders have thrown their support behind Trump and his running mate JD Vance, others have rallied behind Harris. Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway urged the tech community to unite behind Harris, praising her as a fighter, leader, and advocate for the tech ecosystem.

Harris has garnered endorsements from prominent figures in the tech world, including LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, former Meta exec Sheryl Sandberg, and Netflix executive chairman Reed Hastings. Box CEO Aaron Levie expressed optimism that Harris would capitalize on missed opportunities by the Biden administration to rally tech industry support for the Democrats.

Known for her pro-business stance, Harris has also shown a willingness to take on influential tech CEOs, addressing issues like the distribution of explicit content on social media platforms during her tenure as attorney-general.

On the topic of crypto, Harris has yet to express a clear stance, but industry insiders hope she could bring a fresh perspective to the sector. With the Biden administration increasing scrutiny on crypto and Trump positioning himself as the “crypto president,” Harris’s approach could shape the industry’s future.

In the realm of AI, Harris has been actively involved in the Biden administration’s approach to AI safety and innovation. While she has emphasized the importance of protecting the public while advancing innovation, some VCs have expressed concerns about potential over-regulation.

As Harris solidifies her position as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, her stance on tech, AI, Big Tech, and crypto will continue to be closely watched by industry insiders and voters alike.