Kamala Harris Viewed As Silicon Valley’s ‘Quiet Ally’: Report

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — Sen. Kamala Harris’ selection as Joe Biden’s running mate could have big implications for Silicon Valley and the Bay Area economy.

The first-term senator’s tech ties have become the talk of Silicon Valley since her selection was announced Tuesday. And according to multiple published reports, industry leaders appear to be all smiles.

Silicon Valley had grown apprehensive amid calls within the progressive wing of the Democratic party to regulate the tech industry.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the former presidential candidate who was on Biden’s shortlist, earlier this year publicly advocated for breaking up tech giants Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple.

Harris is considered to be “reasonably friendly” to Silicon Valley, venture capitalist Bradley Tusk told The Washington Post.

“Ultimately I have to guess she will be a quiet ally for them behind the scenes,” Tusk said.

Matt Tanielian, the co-founder of a Washington-based lobbying firm that represents some of Silicon Valley’s biggest players, told CNN he expects Harris to be tough but fair, which will ultimately benefit the tech industry.

"She's a great pick for the tech industry," Tanielian said. "Not because I think she's going to suddenly turn tech back into the darling it once was ... but she knows the issues really well. She's no pushover on any of the tough things."

Harris’ ties to Silicon Valley drew national media attention when she launched her 2016 senate run and was a recipient of donations from some of the industry’s biggest names, according to a 2015 VentureBeat report.

“For a top-of-the-ticket that has struggled until recently to excite the wealthiest and most powerful tech moguls, Harris will bring superfans from the billionaire class that will supercharge Democrats’ coffers, even though it makes Biden more dependent on these big donors,” Vox reports.