Quid Pro Quo (QPQ) Tracker
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A QPQ Tracker study · California · 2023–2026

California: who paid for the data centers and what the state decided

California lets corporations give directly, and the sums are the largest in the study: PG&E $30.4M, Google $14.4M, Meta $13.5M, Edison $12.4M, Sempra $10.1M, Amazon $3.7M. Most of it went to ballot committees. PG&E gave $13.6M to the committee against Tom Steyer’s run for governor. Google gave $10M and Meta $6M to California Leads.

Speaker Rivas took $182,200 from the payer set, the Assembly utilities chair $173,200, Gov. Newsom $155,000. In 2025 SB 57 passed only after Assembly Appropriations removed its data center tariff. Newsom vetoed the water-reporting bill the same day.

In 2026 the Legislature sent him seven data center bills: cost-shift tariffs, water and energy disclosure, no environmental-review exemptions. He signed all seven on September 21, 2026. The payer money kept flowing to the same leaders and committee chairs. 204 votes are loaded from the Legislature’s own roll-call tables.

$84.8M
corporate and PAC direct giving in California's filings, 3,536 contributions, January 2023 to October 2026
16
officeholders and candidates who took it
16
measures tracked, 13 enacted, 2 vetoed or failed
204
recorded votes loaded on those measures
Read the California findings →All 16 states and Washington
1

Who paid

Each company's direct giving from its treasury and employee PAC, as filed in California. Executives' personal cheques, super PAC spending and lobbying are different kinds of money and are not added here.

8 payers in California
PayerClassDirect giving in CaliforniaFilings (every state the payer files in)
PG&EUtility$30,405,660
3 filer rows →
GoogleHyperscaler$14,393,499
8 filer rows →
MetaHyperscaler$13,529,000
2 filer rows →
Edison InternationalUtility$12,351,720
3 filer rows →
SempraUtility$10,101,786
3 filer rows →
AmazonHyperscaler$3,748,360
8 filer rows →
MicrosoftHyperscaler$134,400
4 filer rows →
OracleHyperscaler$100,500
3 filer rows →
2

Who took it

The California officeholders and candidates who received the most from the payer set, and what each did on the state's data center measures: the votes they cast, the bills they authored, the orders they signed. A yea is a vote for the measure as titled.

16 people in California took payer money. The 12 largest are shown.
#1 · California

Robert Rivas(D)

Speaker of the California Assembly, AD-29
$182K
31 gifts, 7 payers
Edison International $43KPG&E $43KMeta $23KGoogle $23KSempra $23K
10 measures voted on
  • YeaYeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • YeaAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#2 · California

Cottie Petrie-Norris(D)

California Assembly, AD-72
$173K
42 gifts, 7 payers
Edison International $47KPG&E $41KSempra $28KAmazon $22KGoogle $16K
10 measures voted on
  • YeaYeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • YeaAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#3 · California

Gavin Newsom(D)

Governor of California
$155K
4 gifts, 3 payers
Amazon $100KGoogle $35KMicrosoft $20K
9 actions on measures
  • shapedAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • shapedSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • shapedSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • shapedSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • shapedAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • shapedAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • shapedAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • shapedAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • shapedSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
#4 · California

Rick Chavez Zbur(D)

California Assembly, AD-51
$121K
34 gifts, 6 payers
Edison International $33KSempra $29KPG&E $19KAmazon $19KGoogle $16K
10 measures voted on · 1 action on a measure
  • advocated forAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • Not votingAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#5 · California

Heath Flora(R)

California Assembly Republican Leader Sept 16, 2025 to Aug 3, 2026, AD-9
$115K
32 gifts, 7 payers
PG&E $30KSempra $23KEdison International $17KAmazon $16KGoogle $14K
10 measures voted on
  • YeaNot votingAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • NayNayAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • Not votingSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • NaySB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • Not votingNot votingAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • NayNayAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • NaySB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • NayNayAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • NayAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#6 · California

Josh Becker (California)(D)

California Senate, SD-13
$91K
23 gifts, 8 payers
PG&E $43KGoogle $12KMeta $10KAmazon $9,000Sempra $7,500
9 measures voted on
  • YeaYeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
#7 · California

James Gallagher (California)(R)

California Assembly Republican Leader to Sept 16, 2025, AD-3
$87K
19 gifts, 6 payers
Edison International $26KSempra $16KAmazon $16KMeta $15KGoogle $12K
7 measures voted on
  • NayAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • Not votingAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • Not votingNot votingAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • NayAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#8 · California

Diane Papan(D)

California Assembly, AD-21
$72K
22 gifts, 5 payers
Edison International $17KAmazon $17KGoogle $14KSempra $13KMeta $11K
10 measures voted on · 3 actions on measures
  • advocated forAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • advocated forAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • advocated forAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • YeaYeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • YeaAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#9 · California

Alexandra Macedo(R)

California Assembly Republican Leader from Aug 3, 2026, AD-33
$71K
25 gifts, 6 payers
Edison International $19KSempra $17KPG&E $15KAmazon $8,900Meta $5,900
10 measures voted on
  • Not votingNot votingAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • NaySB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • NaySB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • NayNot votingAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • Not votingYeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • NaySB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
  • NayAB 222: data center power usage reporting and cost shifts (held in Senate Appropriations)Failed
#10 · California

Steve Padilla(D)

California Senate, SD-18
$66K
32 gifts, 6 payers
Google $15KEdison International $12KMeta $12KPG&E $9,900Amazon $8,500
9 measures voted on · 3 actions on measures
  • advocated forSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • advocated forSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • advocated forSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • YeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
#11 · California

Monique Limón(D)

President pro Tempore of the California Senate from Nov 17, 2025, SD-21
$50K
19 gifts, 6 payers
Google $17KAmazon $12KMeta $8,400Edison International $5,500PG&E $4,500
9 measures voted on
  • YeaYeaSB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • YeaAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • YeaYeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • YeaAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • YeaAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • YeaAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • Not votingYeaSB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • YeaAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
#12 · California

Brian Jones (California)(R)

California Senate Minority Leader, SD-40
$47K
14 gifts, 4 payers
Google $18KAmazon $12KMeta $10KPG&E $6,000
9 measures voted on
  • NayNaySB 887: CEQA and data centers, Chapter 439Enacted
  • NayNaySB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act, Chapter 438Enacted
  • NayAB 2383: data center transmission, distribution and generation tariffs, Chapter 435Enacted
  • NayYeaSB 1168: data center rate structures, Chapter 440Enacted
  • NayAB 2469: data center water use disclosures, Chapter 436Enacted
  • NayAB 1577: data center reporting to the Energy Commission, Chapter 434Enacted
  • NayAB 2619: data center water use reporting, Chapter 437Enacted
  • NayNaySB 57: data center cost-shift assessment, Chapter 647Enacted
  • NayAB 93: data center water use reporting (vetoed)Vetoed
The 12 largest recipients of any kind, committees included
#RecipientKindFrom the payer set
1California LeadsPAC or committee$16,050,000
2Jobspac, A Bi-Partisan Coalition Of California EmployersPAC or committee$15,750,000
3Californians For Resilient And Affordable Energy, No On Steyer For Governor 2026 (See Attachment For Full Committee Name)PAC or committee$13,575,000
4California Building Industry Association Issues CommitteePAC or committee$2,860,900
5California Democratic PartyPAC or committee$2,822,500
6Yes On 45 - Building A More Affordable California, A Coalition Of Water, Affordable Housing, Clean Energy, Small Business, Healthcare & Community LeadersPAC or committee$2,300,000
7California Business PAC, sponsored by California Chamber of Commerce (aka CALBUSPAC)PAC or committee$2,250,000
8California Republican Party - StatePAC or committee$1,720,000
9Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy (California)PAC or committee$1,553,900
10Committee to Engage and Empower California VotersPAC or committee$1,286,000
11Californians for Homes, Jobs and Affordability 2026, Sponsored by Affordable Housing OrganizationsPAC or committee$1,200,000
12Legislative Action PAC, sponsored by Legislative Action CaliforniaPAC or committee$1,130,000
3

What they decided

Every California bill, regulator's order, executive action and election the study tracks, with its result, its recorded vote and the people and companies on the record for it. Each links to the official document.

16 measures · 204 votes
California16 measures

How to read this page

The money is corporate-treasury and employee-PAC giving reported in California’s own filing system, the Cal-Access bulk export, from January 2023 to the latest filing loaded (3,536 contributions, January 2023 to October 2026). Transfers between a politician’s own committees, conduit memo lines and gifts from the opposing side are left out. Executives’ personal cheques, super PAC spending, 527 transfers and lobbying are different kinds of money. The report keeps them apart, and the written part of this page names them as such. Nothing on this page adds across kinds.

The votes are the legislature’s own roll calls, loaded for the members the study follows. A yea is a vote for the measure as titled. The measures are the bills, commission orders, executive actions and elections the study identified; each links to its official record.

Every payer total was reconciled against the payer’s own reports where the state publishes them. The checks are in the report’s verification log. Figures on this page were last recomputed on October 31, 2026. Correlation is not proof of causation; the record shows what was paid and what was decided.