Grindr CEO Endorses San Jose Mayor for California Gubernatorial Race
George Allison, the CEO of Grindr, has made his preference known in the upcoming California gubernatorial race. Once identifying as a conservative, he endorsed moderate San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and wrote a substantial check of $7,000 to support his campaign.
“I’m rooting for Matt Mahan,” he mentioned in a conversation with Politico. Mahan is among several Democrats vying for the 2026 position, alongside notable figures like former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer. On the Republican side, Steve Hilton has stepped in as the candidate, with Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco set to replace him.
Despite his endorsement, Allison emphasized that he does not wish to engage deeply in political matters. “Basically, I don’t get involved in politics. I don’t want Grindr to get involved in politics at all,” he stated. This assertion aligns with his stance that the state government is overly large and isn’t delivering adequate services, contrasting the situation from a decade ago.
Allison’s rise to the CEO position back in 2022 generated some controversy, especially after prior tweets surfaced where he labeled himself a conservative—tweets that have since been deleted. His past comments include support for figures like former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin for running for president and expressing a preference for Mitt Romney over Donald Trump.
While it’s unclear if he still identifies as a conservative, Allison critiqued the current state governance, noting that, while he appreciates California for its work opportunities and environment, he finds its government increasingly inefficient.
Grindr does have a public policy team focused predominantly on user needs, rather than political agendas. “Most of that team’s work is centered around what users need, like funding for HIV prevention and treatment, international decriminalization of homosexuality, and protection of gay marriage as necessary,” he explained. Allison mentioned that he participates occasionally in campaigns that support these efforts, but with limited involvement.
Allison also highlighted plans for greater integration of artificial intelligence within the company and shared that he supports the previous administration’s strategy in utilizing AI. “Actually, the strategy [from Trump’s administration] is pretty good,” he commented, emphasizing the importance of making AI more accessible and advanced, particularly in relation to global competition.
