Crypto billionaire Chris Larsen has contributed $500,000 to support Theo Ellington for District 10 supervisor, according to a new campaign finance filing submitted Thursday.
While the sum is not unusual relative to Larsen’s other contributions, it is highly unusual for a San Francisco supervisorial race — and likely larger than any other contribution coming from an individual to support a city supervisor candidate ever.
Larsen, his wife, Lyna Lam, and his company Ripple Labs, have collectively poured more money into the San Francisco races than any other donor spending in the November election. Larsen and his wife have given $2.5 million to support Mayor Daniel Lurie’s charter amendments, and Ripple has given $500,000 toward Lurie’s committee supporting the Muni parcel tax measure.
Ellington is the executive director of the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House, and a policy director at Brownstein, a public affairs firm — he is a registered city lobbyist.
He is in the running against J.R. Eppler, a small business attorney and Dion-Jay Brookter, former chief executive at Young Community Developers, to represent District 10, which includes Bayview Hunters-Point, Visitacion Valley, Portola and Dogpatch. The winner of the race will succeed the termed-out Shamann Walton.
Ellington is the chosen candidate for the city’s moderate groups, including GrowSF, a political advocacy group. To date, the group has spent $61,000 supporting Ellington in its voter guide, but will likely spend more.
The donation from Larsen was first reported by the San Francisco Standard. It was sent to a political action committee backing Ellington, which operates independently from Ellington’s campaign.
Aside from third-party spending, Ellington’s campaign already has a fundraising lead. Ellington has fundraised $472,000 from small-dollar donors, who give no more than $500, and the city’s public financing system. Meanwhile, Eppler’s campaign has a total of $151,000, and Brookter’s has $129,000.
Messages for Larsen were not immediately returned. Ellington did not immediately provide comment on the contribution. This article will be updated if and when he does.
“When a billionaire puts that kind of money behind a candidate, voters should ask whose interest will come first. Billionaires don’t give gifts, instead they make investments and expect returns,” said Eppler, Ellington’s opponent. “District 10 deserves a supervisor who fully represents the hardworking people who live here.”
