The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.1 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the midterms, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data. From billionaire investors to shipping magnates to casino moguls, these megadonors skew Republican, though they affiliate with both parties.
Topping the list are George Soros, the Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor and philanthropist to liberal causes globally, and Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein, founders of a shipping company and key benefactors behind the GOP’s move to the hard right in recent years.
Many of the figures on the list are familiar faces, but some are new on the scene, in particular a handful of millennials such as 30-year-old Sam Bankman-Fried who have enjoyed a recent financial windfall from cryptocurrency investments.
Top individual donors
1.
Democratic
George Soros
Hedge fund founder
Total large donations:
$128.5M
Top donations:
Soros-backed PAC supporting Democratic candidates
Supports Black and left-leaning candidates
DEMOCRATIC GRASSROOTS VICTORY FUND
$825K
Supports Democratic candidates
Soros, a Hungarian born Holocaust survivor, is a leading philanthropist to liberal causes internationally.
2.
Republican
Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein
Founders of Wisconsin-based shipping and packaging materials company
Total large donations:
$70.2M
Top donations:
CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION
$28.5M
Supports GOP candidates, especially in Wisconsin
Supports GOP candidates in Wisconsin
The Midwestern couple are major givers to Republican candidates and causes outside the GOP’s mainstream, helping to push the party further to the right.
3.
Republican
Kenneth Griffin
Hedge fund manager
Total large donations:
$65.9M
Top donations:
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$25M
Supports GOP House candidates
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$20M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
Supported former Bridgewater CEO David McCormick in failed primary campaign for Senate in Pennsylvania
Griffin recently moved his financial services company, Citadel, from Chicago to Miami.
4.
Republican
Jeffrey Yass
Investment company founder
Total large donations:
$48.2M
Top donations:
CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION
$16.5M
Supports candidates opposed to covid-induced school closures
Supports Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
The co-founder and managing director of the Philadelphia-based Susquehanna International Group is especially active in funding GOP causes in Pennsylvania.
5.
Democratic
Sam Bankman-Fried
Cryptocurrency executive and investor
Total large donations:
$39.2M
Top donations:
PROTECT OUR FUTURE PAC
$27M
PAC bankrolled by Sam Bankman-Fried
Supports Democratic House candidates
Supports pro-cryptocurrency candidates
The 30-year-old investor and CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX has funneled money to candidates aligned with his philanthropic vision of so-called “effective altruism” and pandemic preparedness, while also giving large sums to Democratic groups.
6.
Republican
Stephen Schwarzman
CEO of Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm
Total large donations:
$32.7M
Top donations:
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$20M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$10M
Supports GOP House candidates
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACTION
$1M
Supports Senate candidacy of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania
The private equity magnate counseled former president Donald Trump during his term and briefly chaired his short-lived Strategic and Policy Forum.
7.
Republican
Timothy Mellon
Chairman of Pan Am Systems, a transportation company
Total large donations:
$32.5M
Top donations:
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$10M
Supports GOP House candidates
Supports GOP candidates in Wisconsin
THE SENTINEL ACTION FUND
$5M
GOP-aligned super PAC associated with Heritage Action
The Wyoming-based businessman is the scion of former Treasury secretary and banking tycoon Andrew Mellon.
8.
Republican
Larry Ellison
Co-founder and chairman of software company Oracle
Total large donations:
$31M
Top donations:
OPPORTUNITY MATTERS FUND
$30M
Super PAC aligned with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
TENNESSEE CONSERVATIVES PAC
$1M
PAC funded by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison supporting Morgan Ortagus in House race in Tennessee
The technology executive and investor, who owns nearly all of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, has sent major sums to a super PAC aligned with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).
9.
Republican
Peter Thiel
Venture capitalist
Total large donations:
$30M
Top donations:
PROTECT OHIO VALUES PAC (POV PAC)
$15M
Thiel-backed effort supporting J.D. Vance in Ohio
Thiel-backed effort supporting Blake Masters in Arizona
MCCARTHY VICTORY FUND
$47.3K
Supports GOP House candidates
The investor and co-founder of PayPal, among other companies, has helped bankroll groups supporting Republicans J.D. Vance in Ohio and Blake Masters in Arizona.
10.
Republican
Patrick and Shirley Ryan
Insurance executive and philanthropist
Total large donations:
$26.8M
Top donations:
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$14M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$10M
Supports GOP House candidates
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION
$1.5M
The Chicago-based insurance executive and his wife are philanthropists and deep-pocketed GOP donors.
More than 80 percent of the money from top donors this cycle has gone to super PACs, which can accept unlimited sums from individuals and often work closely with campaigns despite rules against coordinating their advertising.
While most of the top 50 donors are individuals, the list also includes more than a dozen organizations that have collectively donated hundreds of millions of dollars to support Republican and Democratic groups.
Top 10 organizations
1.
Republican
One Nation
Nonprofit aligned with Senate GOP
Total large donations:
$53.5M
Top donations:
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$53.5M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
The 501(c)(4) nonprofit is aligned with the Senate GOP’s campaign arm but doesn’t have to disclose its donors.
2.
Republican
American Action Network
Nonprofit aligned with House GOP
Total large donations:
$47.1M
Top donations:
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$47.1M
Supports GOP House candidates
The 501(c)(4) nonprofit is aligned with the House GOP’s campaign arm but doesn’t have to disclose its donors.
3.
Democratic
Majority Forward
Democratic-aligned nonprofit
Total large donations:
$30.3M
Top donations:
Supports Democratic Senate candidates
Supports Democratic candidates in Colorado
The 501(c)(4) nonprofit is aligned with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.).
4.
Democratic
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
Building trades union
Total large donations:
$27.3M
Top donations:
WORKING FOR WORKING AMERICANS (FEDERAL)
$23.1M
PAC backed by building trades
STRATEGIC VICTORY FUND IE PAC
$2.5M
PAC backed by building trades
WORKING FOR WORKING AMERICANS (NON FEDERAL ACCOUNT)
$1.6M
PAC backed by building trades
One of the largest trade unions in America, the group has backed Democratic groups and left-leaning causes.
5.
Democratic
Fund for Policy Reform
A Soros-linked nonprofit
Total large donations:
$25M
Top donations:
Soros-backed PAC supporting Democratic candidates
Backed by Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the 501(c)(4) organization supports left-leaning causes.
6.
Republican
Koch Industries
Industrial conglomerate based in Kansas
Total large donations:
$24.3M
Top donations:
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION
$20M
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$2.2M
Supports GOP House candidates
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$2M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
The business is the basis of the fortune enjoyed by Charles Koch and his late brother, David.
7.
Republican
National Association of Realtors
Trade association for the real estate industry
Total large donations:
$22.8M
Top donations:
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS CONGRESSIONAL FUND
$16.2M
PAC backed by realtors trade group
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$4.6M
Supports GOP House candidates
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$2M
Supports GOP Senate candidates
The business league, based in Chicago, has contributed major sums to GOP committees seeking to reclaim control of Congress.
8.
Democratic
League of Conservation Voters
Environmental advocacy group
Total large donations:
$15.4M
Top donations:
Supports environmentalist candidates
Supports environmentalist candidates in Ohio
GIVEGREEN UNITED ACTION
$88K
Supports environmentalist candidates
The nonprofit supports pro-environment candidates, whether through voter mobilization and education or direct support for campaigns.
9.
Republican
Stand Together
Koch-backed nonprofit
Total large donations:
$15M
Top donations:
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION
$15M
As the main nonprofit arm of the network funded by billionaire industrialist Charles Koch and his late brother, David, the group has given millions to Koch-backed super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action.
10.
Democratic
America Votes
Left-leaning nonprofit
Total large donations:
$10.8M
Top donations:
Supports environmentalist candidates
Left-leaning group aimed at mobilizing Black voters
AMERICA VOTES ACTION FUND
$2M
The 501(c)(4) organization advocates progressive causes and candidates, with an emphasis on state-level turnout operations.
The top 50 donors
Explore the full list of the top 50 donors in the midterms below.
About this story
Read More:Analysis | These are the 50 top donors for the 2022 midterm elections
2022-10-24 20:37:55
