DoorDash Is Latest Tech Firm to Commit Millions to New York City Elections

DoorDash Inc. is committing $5 million to back political candidates in New York City and state-level races in New Jersey this year, becoming the latest technology company to disclose its lobbying efforts ahead of local elections in the tristate area.

The food delivery company has not endorsed specific candidates or coalitions, but a spokesperson said it’s planning to support “pro-local economy candidates” in New York’s mayoral and city council races, as well as state and gubernatorial races in New Jersey this year.

“We’ve heard from our communities around the country that bad policy is spurring the cost of living crisis, and we want to be sure that DoorDash is part of the solution,” said John Horton, head of public policy for North America, said in an emailed statement. “This effort is about making sure pro-local economy candidates, and by extension policies that support the local economy, can succeed.”

DoorDash is joining San Francisco-based technology peers like Uber Technologies Inc. and Airbnb Inc. in pouring millions into backing politicians and groups to advance policies that would benefit their own causes.

Since 2023, DoorDash has spent more than $158,400 in lobbying New York City politicians against issues such as minimum wage for couriers and tipping requirements, according to data from the city clerk. It also supported a city council bill passed last week that exempts food delivery apps from pandemic-era caps on how much they can charge restaurants for their services, effectively allowing them to charge more in commissions.

DoorDash’s comments about the cost of living echo arguments made by Uber, which has blamed what it describes as an abuse of insurance policies for rising ride-hail prices. The rideshare giant has said it will set aside at least a million dollars to a New York coalition called “Citizens for Affordable Rates,” which supports local legislation that would reduce minimum liability coverage for rideshare drivers.

Airbnb is similarly arguing the affordability angle in backing home-sharing-friendly politicians, and doubling its planned political spending to $10 million this year and next. It’s pushing back against local restrictions that took more than 80% of its New York City short-term-rental listings offline within a year, Bloomberg News reported in January. This, it says, has contributed to higher hotel rates for tourists and has caused pain to homeowners relying on Airbnb rental income to pay off their mortgages.

Photo: A DoorDash delivery bag outside a DashMart location in New York.