Kamala Harris' tech allies on track to raise over $100 million as they work to win over Silicon Valley skeptics

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Vice President Kamala Harris' allies in the tech community have launched a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign to convince wealthy donors to back her campaign for president, according to people familiar with the matter. Longtime investors Reid Hoffman and Ron Conway have been among Harris' allies in Silicon Valley privately calling on those in their networks to support the vice president over former President Donald Trump, these people explained. The conversations have been ongoing since Sunday, when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, according to people who described the discussions to CNBC. Conway has even attempted to recruit venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, according to three people familiar with the outreach who, like others in this story, were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. The move was noteworthy because the two founders of the venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz have already said they are going to support Trump, and plan to donate to a pro-Trump political action committee. Hoffman convinced Netflix chairman Reed Hastings to support Harris with a $7 million donation to a pro-Harris PAC, according to The Information. Hastings, who has been a longtime Democratic donor, said shortly after Biden left the race and backed Harris that, "Dem delegates need to pick a swing state winner." But two days later, Hastings backed the former California senator, writing on social media, "congrats to Kamala Harris -- now it is time to win." A source familiar with the lobbying push by Conway, Hoffman and others estimates that their efforts alone are on track to raise over $100 million from major tech industry donors.