Cory Booker's Silicon Valley money machine: Zuckerberg, Andreessen, Hoffman

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Newark, New Jersey Mayor and recently elected Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has plenty of Silicon Valley tech industry donors to thank for his new post.

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Lauren Hepler: Economic Development Reporter- Silicon Valley Business Journal; Email | Twitter | LinkedIn | Google+

Newark Mayor, New Jersey Senator-elect and erstwhile startup fundraiser Cory Booker is back under the microscope for his Silicon Valley ties after hiring away a Facebook executive as a senior staffer.

Fresh off his win in a special Senate election last week, Booker has hired Facebook Public Policy Director and Obama administration veteran Louisa Terrell as a senior staffer, Politico reported on Tuesday.

But a Business Journal review of federal campaign finance filings reveals that Booker has garnered much more than a new staffer from the Menlo Park social networking company. Facebook employees — led by founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan — donated about $28,600 to Booker's Senate campaign, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Those political donations are just a sample of the dozens of Silicon Valley tech executives, entrepreneurs and investors who helped bankroll Booker's campaign in faraway New Jersey.

The New York times reported this summer that the campaign had amassed a total $700,000 from the tech industry. My analysis of federal data on OpenSecrets.org found that out of $973,374 given to Booker by California donors, just shy of $300,000 came from tech industry professionals in Silicon Valley.

Silicon Valley donors were identified by addresses and places of employment listed on Federal Election Commission filings.

The six-figure sum from Silicon Valley is a small chunk of the $11.5 million Booker raised from all donors, led by individuals and groups in finance, real estate and entertainment. Still, campaign contributors like Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen and Reid Hoffman make Booker's local backers noteworthy — especially as the tech industry ratchets up its broader lobbying and advocacy efforts.