Larsen Writes Big Check to Back Moderate Supervisor Candidate

San Francisco tech billionaire Chris Larsen has made a significant donation to support Theo Ellington's campaign for an open seat on the Board of Supervisors. The $500,000 contribution is one of the largest ever donated to a group supporting a single supervisor candidate and represents the latest show of strength from the city's moderate political machine.

Larsen, co-founder of cryptocurrency company Ripple Labs, has a history of donating to public safety initiatives in San Francisco. He has contributed millions to revitalize a commercial corridor in the Tenderloin and overhaul the San Francisco Police Department's technology hub.

Ellington, a former lobbyist and director of the Ruth Williams Opera House in the Bayview, has raised more than $480,820 by the end of August. His fundraising efforts have far surpassed other candidates in the crowded field, with neither of his two most prominent opponents having raised more than $170,000 individually.

D.J. Brookter, one of Ellington's opponents, decried Larsen's contribution and suggested that if Ellington wins, he will be accountable to donors like Larsen rather than constituents.