Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launched “Garry’s List” on Wednesday, a new California-based nonprofit organization intended to influence state and local politics through voter education and support for candidates he describes as “radical centrists,” according to a press release and reports from multiple news outlets.
The organization, which Tan is personally funding and for which he has similarly raised funds from supporters, will publish voter guides, conduct policy research and host events across the state, including at Tan’s San Francisco home, according to The San Francisco Standard. Tan described Garry’s List as a “Rotary Club for radical centrism.”
Tan’s move comes after previous political involvement in San Francisco, including backing recall efforts, and as many tech executives have considered relocating to states without proposed “billionaire taxes,” The San Francisco Standard reported. Tan explicitly reiterated his opposition to a proposed California billionaire tax, stating that Y Combinator would consider opening offices outside the state if the measure passes in November.
Garry’s List will actively work to educate voters on the potential consequences of the proposed tax, as well as other state and local proposals, according to Tan. The organization’s structure is modeled after Emily’s List, a national organization that supports Democratic women candidates, but with a focus on what Tan calls “commonsense, pro-growth policies.”
The new organization is a 501(c)4 nonprofit, allowing it to spend money directly on candidates and ballot measures, according to Mission Local. It will also produce materials for distribution, sponsor lectures, and potentially offer training to candidates for public office. Tan told the San Francisco Examiner that Garry’s List aims to bring together “pragmatic solutions and pragmatic people who want to make our state better,” and is not focused on traditional party lines.
Tan has been a vocal critic of progressive policies in San Francisco, frequently expressing his views on social media. Mission Local described Garry’s List as a “dark-money group,” noting that its nonprofit status allows for anonymous donations. The organization has already launched a blog that criticizes public-sector unions and the ongoing teachers’ strike, and denounces the proposed billionaire tax.
Currently, Garry’s List has a staff of two, including a political strategist based in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Examiner reported. Tan intends for the organization to focus on both local and statewide issues, emphasizing the importance of investment and entrepreneurship to California’s economy.
