Eric Lucan disavows crypto billionaires’ PAC that’s spent $858k supporting his run for California’s Assembly District 12
Big Tech now finds itself in that nationwide nemesis role amid blowback over the warnings about artificial intelligence and broad opposition to data centers — a shockwave extending into the Democrat-on-Democrat race for California’s 12th Assembly District, which covers Marin County and southern Sonoma County, including Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, and part of Santa Rosa.
That contest pits Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan and Rohnert Park City Councilmember Jackie Elward, the top two vote-getters from June’s primary.
The race drew the attention of Grow California, a political committee founded by a pair of crypto billionaires, Chris Larsen and Tim Draper, who seek to transform the state’s Assembly and Senate into more tech- and business-friendly bodies. Between its expenditures opposing Elward and in support of Lucan, the Grow California PAC has now spent over $1.6 million on the North Bay race.
Draper is a libertarian-leaning Bitcoin crusader also known for his attempts to break up the state of California. Larsen, a Democrat and founder of the crypto company Ripple, is a San Francisco resident who also owns a 46-acre compound in Calistoga. He believes unions hold too much sway over the state Legislature, and seeks a more centrist, pro-business “counterforce” to them.
But Grow America’s expenditures in the District 12 race do not appear to be having their desired effect. Elward, an educator with strong support from labor unions, and the backing of Damon Connolly, the incumbent running for state Senate, has raised her profile by calling attention to the super PAC’s efforts to oppose her, brandishing them as a badge of honor.
Lucan, a longtime SMART board member and former Novato councilmember, meanwhile, is actively distancing himself from the committee, working to let voters know he’s not coordinating with Grow California and wants nothing to do with it.