Despite Silicon Valley's division, hackers provide the Harris campaign with a $150,000 boost
The Hackers for Harris fundraiser took place alongside the world’s biggest cybersecurity conference, highlighting the hacker community's backing of the Democratic ticket.
TroibNews 
LAS VEGAS — While Vice President Kamala Harris was not present at the largest hacking conference in the world this week, her aspirations for the presidency were indirectly promoted thanks to a fundraising effort by cybersecurity experts and hackers. This effort was spearheaded by former officials from the Biden administration and successfully accumulated over $150,000 for her campaign during a side event.
The event, dubbed "Hackers for Harris," took place on Thursday afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center alongside the DEF CON conference. According to the organizers, attendance was around 150 people, and the funds raised exceeded their revised goal of $150,000.
“We exceeded the amount of money we hoped to earn,” said Kemba Walden, who formerly served as the Acting White House national cyber director under President Biden, and played a critical role in organizing the fundraiser. “But more importantly, or just as important for me, was that people here understood that Vice President Harris is not new to this space.”
The funds gathered at this event surpassed the total raised by previous cyber and hacker-centric presidential fundraisers related to DEF CON, which saw contributions for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and a virtual event for President Joe Biden in 2020 amounting to approximately $100,000 collectively.
“[Harris has] got a long track record, not only of considering safety and security and innovation at the same time but also in consulting with researchers and individuals who are in this space,” Walden highlighted. “I wanted to make sure that everybody understood that.”
Jake Braun, who previously served as the acting deputy principal national cybersecurity director, co-organized the event with Walden. Attendees, many wearing "Vote for Harris" T-shirts, gathered in a corner of the convention center to listen to Walden’s remarks, encouraging contributions to ensure that cybersecurity remains a top priority in a potential Harris administration. Contributions also came from those unable to attend but who supported the cause remotely.
“We had a lot of people who weren't even here today, but care about the issue, who donated because they want to make sure it was for this event,” said Braun, although he chose not to disclose any contributors by name.
With the election approaching in less than 100 days, the fundraiser highlighted a burgeoning support base within the tech-savvy community, potentially contributing significantly to Harris’s campaign funds and to shaping policy on issues like privacy and encryption. The ultimate tally of the funds raised is still under calculation, with the largest single donation reported to exceed $10,000.
No similar event has been confirmed for former President Donald Trump's campaign. However, his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has publicly expressed concerns regarding China-related cyber threats and maintains strong relationships in Silicon Valley, including with major donor Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir. Moreover, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has shown his support for Trump by creating a political action committee focused on voter data collection.
A substantial showing of Democratic support was evident when 1,200 tech workers under the group Tech4Kamala committed to backing the vice president, calling her an “archetypical innovator” and a “champion of technology,” as reported by Bloomberg.
Harris’s knowledge of cybersecurity issues has been clear since the outset of the Biden administration, marked by her focus following the Russian-backed SolarWinds attack, which breached multiple federal agencies. Her stance on artificial intelligence and her legislative efforts to secure elections while serving as a senator illustrate her proactive approach in this sector.
The atmosphere at DEF CON, where informal attire such as T-shirts and flip-flops are commonplace, underscores its relaxed yet committed stance on issues like transparency and freedom, attributes that Braun associated with a progressive mindset inclined towards Democratic values.
Following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21, Harris has capitalized on a surge in donor interest. In July, her campaign gathered $310 million - more than double the amount raised by Trump, signalling robust support for her candidacy within the Democratic base.
Braun regards Harris as uniquely capable in addressing cybersecurity at the highest levels of office due to her nuanced understanding of the subject, which surpasses any previous president.
This event not only signaled the melding of cybersecurity with political campaigning but also sparked discussions about Harris potentially visiting DEF CON next year, a suggestion that Walden is ready to personally encourage.
“Would I write a letter inviting her? Of course,” Walden confirmed.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
The event, dubbed "Hackers for Harris," took place on Thursday afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center alongside the DEF CON conference. According to the organizers, attendance was around 150 people, and the funds raised exceeded their revised goal of $150,000.
“We exceeded the amount of money we hoped to earn,” said Kemba Walden, who formerly served as the Acting White House national cyber director under President Biden, and played a critical role in organizing the fundraiser. “But more importantly, or just as important for me, was that people here understood that Vice President Harris is not new to this space.”
The funds gathered at this event surpassed the total raised by previous cyber and hacker-centric presidential fundraisers related to DEF CON, which saw contributions for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and a virtual event for President Joe Biden in 2020 amounting to approximately $100,000 collectively.
“[Harris has] got a long track record, not only of considering safety and security and innovation at the same time but also in consulting with researchers and individuals who are in this space,” Walden highlighted. “I wanted to make sure that everybody understood that.”
Jake Braun, who previously served as the acting deputy principal national cybersecurity director, co-organized the event with Walden. Attendees, many wearing "Vote for Harris" T-shirts, gathered in a corner of the convention center to listen to Walden’s remarks, encouraging contributions to ensure that cybersecurity remains a top priority in a potential Harris administration. Contributions also came from those unable to attend but who supported the cause remotely.
“We had a lot of people who weren't even here today, but care about the issue, who donated because they want to make sure it was for this event,” said Braun, although he chose not to disclose any contributors by name.
With the election approaching in less than 100 days, the fundraiser highlighted a burgeoning support base within the tech-savvy community, potentially contributing significantly to Harris’s campaign funds and to shaping policy on issues like privacy and encryption. The ultimate tally of the funds raised is still under calculation, with the largest single donation reported to exceed $10,000.
No similar event has been confirmed for former President Donald Trump's campaign. However, his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has publicly expressed concerns regarding China-related cyber threats and maintains strong relationships in Silicon Valley, including with major donor Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir. Moreover, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has shown his support for Trump by creating a political action committee focused on voter data collection.
A substantial showing of Democratic support was evident when 1,200 tech workers under the group Tech4Kamala committed to backing the vice president, calling her an “archetypical innovator” and a “champion of technology,” as reported by Bloomberg.
Harris’s knowledge of cybersecurity issues has been clear since the outset of the Biden administration, marked by her focus following the Russian-backed SolarWinds attack, which breached multiple federal agencies. Her stance on artificial intelligence and her legislative efforts to secure elections while serving as a senator illustrate her proactive approach in this sector.
The atmosphere at DEF CON, where informal attire such as T-shirts and flip-flops are commonplace, underscores its relaxed yet committed stance on issues like transparency and freedom, attributes that Braun associated with a progressive mindset inclined towards Democratic values.
Following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race on July 21, Harris has capitalized on a surge in donor interest. In July, her campaign gathered $310 million - more than double the amount raised by Trump, signalling robust support for her candidacy within the Democratic base.
Braun regards Harris as uniquely capable in addressing cybersecurity at the highest levels of office due to her nuanced understanding of the subject, which surpasses any previous president.
This event not only signaled the melding of cybersecurity with political campaigning but also sparked discussions about Harris potentially visiting DEF CON next year, a suggestion that Walden is ready to personally encourage.
“Would I write a letter inviting her? Of course,” Walden confirmed.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
