California Ballot Initiatives 2026

Major donors identified behind Building a Better California

, which has transferred more than $100 million to the campaign opposing Proposition 40. The organization also finances Propositions 41, 42 and 45 The individual shares cannot be determined from these transfer amounts alone.

FPPC

Who are the major donors? Proposition Major identified donors or funding sources Disclosed amounts

40 — Billionaire wealth tax (opposition) Building a Better California, with top underlying donors Sergey Brin and John Doerr $103.5M transferred to No on 40 committee

42 — Restrictions on wealth/property taxes (support) Building a Better California, with Brin and Doerr as top donors $112.8M transferred

41 — Special-tax audits and spending limits (support) Building a Better California, with Brin and Doerr as top donors $58.35M transferred

38 — Immunology research bonds (support) Gary Michelson; Michelson Center; Meyer Luskin $25M direct from Michelson; $21.2M through the center; $5M Luskin

45 — Environmental review changes (support) Building a Better California; building industry PACs; utility and development interests $10M, $6.6M, $3.4M, $2.3M, plus others

39 — Voter identification (support) Richard Uihlein; Joe Gebbia; Nicole Shanahan; Winklevoss twins $17M; $8M; $370K; $250K each from the twins

43 — Local taxation rules (support) California Business Roundtable Issues PAC; Kilroy Realty; Douglas Emmett Properties $9.87M; $1M; $1M

37 — Housing construction/homeownership (support) California Association of Realtors-associated committee; Building a Better California $14.85M; $6M Sources: FPPC's October 13 disclosures for Propositions 37–45.

FPPC

Richard Uihlein

$17 million toward Proposition 39, establishing voter identification requirements.

FPPC

There are also notable wealthy donors financing opposition campaigns. For example, Wendy Schmidt is listed as contributing $10 million against Proposition 45, and Reed Hastings contributed $1 million to a committee opposing Proposition 39.