McDonald’s is facing growing calls for a boycott after reports that the fast-food giant donated $500,000 to California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra. The donation has sparked backlash among conservative consumers, particularly those who oppose Becerra’s political agenda. Becerra has also received substantial financial support from other major corporations, including Chevron, Meta, and Uber, putting a spotlight on the growing role of corporate money in the California governor’s race.
The controversy quickly spread across social media, where some conservative users urged fellow consumers to stop spending money at McDonald’s. One X user said the donation gave them “one more reason” to avoid the chain, arguing that they did not want to support a corporation that contributes to candidates they view as promoting socialist policies. Others echoed the sentiment, saying the political contribution was enough to permanently change where they spend their money.
The backlash continued as more users publicly announced boycotts. One commenter wrote that McDonald’s had provided “the last push” they needed to stop returning to the restaurant. Another post questioned the company’s involvement in California’s Restaurant Meals Program, which allows eligible SNAP recipients to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants. Critics argued that McDonald’s should focus on serving customers rather than becoming involved in political campaigns.
Some of the criticism became significantly more personal and heated. One X user accused Becerra of failing vulnerable children and questioned why McDonald’s would support a candidate they strongly oppose. Another user directly asked McDonald’s whether it planned to make additional donations to Democratic candidates, saying that such contributions would give consumers even more reasons to boycott the company. The comments illustrate just how quickly a corporate political donation can become a consumer-relations problem.
Meanwhile, Becerra is facing separate criticism over financial support from Meta. The company reportedly contributed $950,000 to a political action committee supporting his gubernatorial campaign. That contribution drew anger from California parents who have pushed for stronger protections for children on social-media platforms. Parents RISE! leader Julianna Arnold called the Meta donation disappointing, particularly given concerns raised about social media’s impact on young people.
The controversy now puts Becerra and the corporations supporting his campaign under an increasingly bright spotlight. For McDonald’s, the episode is another reminder that political spending can have consequences far beyond the campaign trail. Whether the boycott calls gain meaningful momentum remains to be seen, but the reaction shows that consumers are increasingly willing to connect corporate political decisions with where they choose to spend their money.