Billionaire Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will host a fundraiser for
wildly popular Republican Chris Christie at the social media mogul's California home next month, the New Jersey governor's office announced on Thursday.
Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan will hold the event on Feb. 13 at their home in Palo Alto, Calif., with a guest list comprising the couple's circle of friends and colleagues, according to the
Wall Street Journal. Donations are a maximum of $3,800, New Jersey’s legal limit per election. The event will serve as Christie's first out-of-state campaign trip on his run for re-election later this year.
Christie and Zuckerberg kept in touch after the Facebook tycoon pledged $100 million in 2010 to improve Newark schools, according to the Bergen County Record.
"They've maintained a friendship since they met," Mike DuHaime, a Christie campaign advisor, told the Record.
Facebook reps confirmed the relationship between Zuckerberg and the governor.
"Mark and (his wife) Priscilla have worked closely with Gov. Christie on education reform in the Newark school system," Facebook spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg told the Wall Street Journal. "They admire his leadership on education reform and other issues and look forward to continuing their important work together on behalf of Newark’s school children."
The fundraiser is believed to be the first time the billionaire has hosted a campaign event at his home, the Wall Street Journal said. Zuckerberg, who has never spoken publicly about his political leanings, is listed as having no party preference on his electoral registration, but he did vote in 2008 and 2012, according to the Santa Clara County’s registrar of voters.
Media speculated about his preference after Zuckerberg attended a dinner with President Barack Obama and other tech executives in 2011.
Facebook as a company allows poilitical advertising but is careful to donate to both sides of the aisle through its political action committee, Facebook Inc PAC, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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