In a surprising move, Ben Horowitz, a prominent venture capitalist and co-founder of the influential firm Andreessen Horowitz, has announced his support for Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. This decision marks a significant shift in his political leanings, as he previously financially backed political action committees supporting Donald Trump’s presidential bid.
Horowitz and his wife, Felicia, have committed to making a “significant donation” to entities backing the Harris-Walz campaign. He revealed this decision in a letter to his employees, highlighting his long-standing friendship with Harris, dating back over a decade. According to Axios, a source close to Andreessen Horowitz confirmed the contents of the letter.
“As I mentioned before, Felicia and I have known Vice President Harris for over 10 years and she has been a great friend to both of us during that time,” Horowitz wrote. “As a result of our friendship, Felicia and I will be making a significant donation to entities who support the Harris-Walz campaign.”
Despite their previous financial support for Trump’s campaign, Andreessen Horowitz has not officially endorsed any candidate for the 2024 election. Their backing for Trump was tied to what they perceived as a favorable “little tech agenda.”
Horowitz expressed his optimism about Harris after engaging in discussions with her and her team. However, he acknowledged that her tech policy is still under development. Therefore, the firm has not yet revised its stance on this specific issue.
This shift in Horowitz’s political support is noteworthy. His previous backing of Trump’s campaign was closely linked to the former president’s tech policies, which Andreessen Horowitz found favorable. With Harris’ tech policy still evolving, it remains to be seen how this will influence the firm’s political endorsements moving forward.
This development adds another layer to the already complex political landscape of the 2024 election. As the campaign season intensifies, it will be interesting to observe how Horowitz’s support for Harris, coupled with his previous association with Trump, impacts the political discourse surrounding technology and the role of venture capital in politics.
