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Congress posted 628,998 times in 2024. Here’s what they’re talking about.

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Which Organizations Donate the Most?

For public affairs professionals and PAC managers, knowing how corporate and association PACs direct their money is important because it yields a more complete picture of the political landscape. Here are the 20 company and association PACs that spent the most overall on corporate political donations in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets:
  • National Association of Realtors, $36.4 million
  • Protect Our Future PAC, $28.2 million
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $18.2 million
  • American Dream Federal Action, $14.7 million
  • GMI PAC, $11.5 million
  • Crypto Freedom PAC, $8.75 million
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $8.5 million
  • American Association for Justice, $7.9 million
  • Honeywell International, $7.25 million
  • Credit Union National Association, $7.2 million
  • American Bankers Association, $7.1 million
  • Home Depot, $6.1 million
  • Web3 Forward, $5.9 million
  • American Hospital Association, $5.5 million
  • Boeing Company, $5 million
  • United Parcel Service, $4.7 million
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists, $4.4 million
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $4.4 million
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $4.3 million
  • American Resort Development Association, $4.3 million
Here are the 20 company and association PACs that gave the most to congressional candidates, and which party candidates received more:
  • National Association of Realtors, $4 million (50% Democrats, 50% Republicans)
  • National Beer Wholesalers Association, $3.2 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Credit Union National Association, $2.85 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • American Crystal Sugar, $2.6 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • AT&T Inc., $2.6 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $2.5 million (51% Democrats, 49% Republicans)
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $2.5 million (27% Democrats, 73% Republicans)
  • American Bankers Association, $2.4 million (31% Democrats, 69% Republicans)
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $2.3 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • Home Depot, $2.2 million (42% Democrats, 58% Republicans)
  • American Association for Justice, $2.2 million (97% Democrats, 3% Republicans)
  • Honeywell International, $2 million (50% Democrats, 49.5% Republicans)
  • Comcast Corporation, $2 million (52% Democrats, 48% Republicans)
  • National Association of Home Builders, $1.95 million (22.5% Democrats, 77.5% Republicans)
  • National Multifamily Housing Council, $1.9 million (59% Democrats, 42% Republicans)
  • American Hospital Association, $1.75 million (56% Democrats, 44% Republicans)
  • American Council of Engineering Companies,  $1.7 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • United Parcel Service, $1.6 million (38% Democrats, 62% Republicans)
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, $1.6 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • American Optometric Association, $1.56 million (47% Democrats, 53% Republicans)

Which Candidates Received the Most?

For congressional candidates, corporate political donations are an important source of funding. In the House, where members must face voters every two years, candidates who are heavily funded by corporate and business association PACs often count on these sources for at least half of their money—and sometimes more. In the Senate, where terms are six years and war chests are far larger, corporate donations generally make up a smaller percentage. Here are the House and Senate candidates who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets. The list includes how much they received from business PACs and how much that contributed to their total fundraising.

U.S. House

In the House, committee assignments and leadership roles can have an impact on how much candidates raise from corporate PACs, which often try to anticipate who will wind up in positions of authority. For example, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, is a former chair of the House Republican Conference. It was well known that she could take the gavel of the Energy and Commerce Committee if Republicans won control of the chamber last year, and a great deal of corporate PAC money flowed her way. Republicans did take the chamber and McMorris now chairs the committee. Rep. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, was the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee during the election, a position that often draws financial support from companies. He lost the gavel when Republicans took charge, but he remains the ranking member. Here is the list of House members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), $3.15 million, 50%
  • Vernon Buchanan (R-FL-16), $2.2 million, 54%
  • Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), $2.15, 62%
  • Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), $2 million, 52%
  • Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), $2 million, 51%
  • Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05), $1.9 million, 48%
  • Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), $1.8 million, 53%
  • Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), $1.7 million, 55%
  • James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06), $1.7 million, 48%
  • Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), $1.7 million, 38%
  • Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), $1.6 million, 6%
  • Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), $1.6 million, 71%
  • Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), $1.6 million, 27%
  • Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), $1.6 million, 68%
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), $1.5 million, 33%
  • Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), $1.5 million, 17%
  • David Scott (D-GA-13), $1.5 million, 74%
  • Jason Smith (R-MO-08), $1.45 million, 45%
  • Rodney Davis (R-IL-15), $1.4 million, 44%
  • Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), $1.4 million, 8%

U.S. Senate

When looking at Senate numbers, it is important not only to recall that Senators serve a six-year term, but that fundraising and corporate support can vary greatly depending on circumstances. A senator with a competitive race or who holds a leadership post on an important committee will often raise more money, and that can also impact what percentage comes from corporate interests. For example, Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, is considering a presidential run and raised a whopping $51.7 million between 2017 and 2022, according to OpenSecrets. Accordingly, the $3.4 million he received from corporate PACs and business associations made up just 6.5 percent of his war chest despite being the highest dollar amount in the chamber. Here is the list of Senate members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Tim Scott (R-SC), $3.4 million, 6.5%
  • John Thune (R-SD), $3.3 million, 25%
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID), $2.7 million, 36%
  • John Boozman (R-AR), $2.6 million, 33%
  • Todd Young (R-IN) $2.6 million, 17%
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR), $2.5 million, 18%
  • Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), $2.5 million, 22%
  • Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), $2.4 million, 6%
  • Chuck Grassley (R-IA), $2.1 million, 20%
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS), $2.1 million, 28%
  • Patty Murray (D-WA), $2.1 million, 10%
  • Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), $2 million, 3%
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL), $2 million, 4%
  • Maggie Hassan (D-NH), $2 million, 5%
  • James Lankford (R-OK), $1.8 million, 25%
  • John Hoeven (R-ND), $1.4 million, 32%
  • Alex Padilla (D-CA), $1.3 million, 11%
  • Katie Britt (R-AL), $1.3 million, 11%
  • John Kennedy (R-LA), $1.2 million, 3%
  • Mike Lee (R-UT), $1.1 million, 9%

The Difference Between Democrat and Republican Fundraising

The common wisdom is that Republicans raise more corporate political donations than Democrats, but the difference is less dramatic when it comes to PACs. Republicans captured 55 percent of contributions from company PACs and business-related associations while Democrats captured 45 percent. There are some companies and associations that clearly favor one party or the other when they give to candidates. For example, some organizations support Republicans more strongly, including the National Auto Dealers Association (73% to Republicans), the American Bankers Association (69%), the National Association of Home Builders (77.5%), and United Parcel Service (62%). Others favor Democrats, including The American Hospital Association (56% to Democrats), the National Multifamily Housing Council (59%) and the American Association for Justice favor Democrats. The latter, which represents trial lawyers, is one of the most lopsided in all of politics, giving 97 percent to Democrats. But many organizations are less inclined to support candidates from one party over another in any pronounced way. For example, the two largest business PAC contributors, the National Association of Realtors and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, split their money fairly evenly between Republican and Democratic candidates and many others do so as well. In truth, most organizations will have to work with members of both parties. Congress is extremely divided and the margins are thin. In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 seats while Democrats hold 48 and get support from three independents much of the time, bringing them to 51. In the House, Republicans control 222 seats and Democrats hold 213, including a vacant district in Virginia recently won by a Democrat. A majority is 218. The situation means there will be tight competition for control of both chambers in 2024—and another big chase for corporate contributions. [post_title] => Which Party Receives More Corporate Donations? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => corporate-donations [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=8654 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [queried_object_id] => 8654 [request] => SELECT wp_posts.* FROM wp_posts WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.post_name = 'corporate-donations' AND wp_posts.post_type = 'resources' ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8654 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-03-01 18:43:53 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-03-01 18:43:53 [post_content] => As all public affairs professionals know, elections are extremely expensive and the numbers keep climbing as year-round campaigning becomes a necessity. Combined spending on the 2022 congressional races topped $8.9 billion, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign money. That’s a new record for midterm elections. Republicans spent roughly $4.2 billion and Democrats spent about $4 billion when money spent by candidates, political parties, and outside groups are totalled for the 2021-2022 election cycle. The money was used to pay for everything from television advertising to get-out-the-vote efforts. Corporate political donations—and especially money from corporate political action committees—are a major source of contributions for both parties. Because Congress and the administration have such a massive impact on companies, controlling everything from taxation and labor laws to the regulatory climate, scores of companies participate in the political process. PAC contributions are regulated, limited, and disclosed, and represent the most traditional way for companies to support candidates and political parties. Corporate political donations from company PACs and business-related associations totalled almost $344 million in the 2022 midterm, according to OpenSecrets. That includes about $154 million, or nearly 45 percent to Democrats and $189 million, or about 55 percent to Republicans.

Which Organizations Donate the Most?

For public affairs professionals and PAC managers, knowing how corporate and association PACs direct their money is important because it yields a more complete picture of the political landscape. Here are the 20 company and association PACs that spent the most overall on corporate political donations in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets:
  • National Association of Realtors, $36.4 million
  • Protect Our Future PAC, $28.2 million
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $18.2 million
  • American Dream Federal Action, $14.7 million
  • GMI PAC, $11.5 million
  • Crypto Freedom PAC, $8.75 million
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $8.5 million
  • American Association for Justice, $7.9 million
  • Honeywell International, $7.25 million
  • Credit Union National Association, $7.2 million
  • American Bankers Association, $7.1 million
  • Home Depot, $6.1 million
  • Web3 Forward, $5.9 million
  • American Hospital Association, $5.5 million
  • Boeing Company, $5 million
  • United Parcel Service, $4.7 million
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists, $4.4 million
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $4.4 million
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $4.3 million
  • American Resort Development Association, $4.3 million
Here are the 20 company and association PACs that gave the most to congressional candidates, and which party candidates received more:
  • National Association of Realtors, $4 million (50% Democrats, 50% Republicans)
  • National Beer Wholesalers Association, $3.2 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Credit Union National Association, $2.85 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • American Crystal Sugar, $2.6 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • AT&T Inc., $2.6 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $2.5 million (51% Democrats, 49% Republicans)
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $2.5 million (27% Democrats, 73% Republicans)
  • American Bankers Association, $2.4 million (31% Democrats, 69% Republicans)
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $2.3 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • Home Depot, $2.2 million (42% Democrats, 58% Republicans)
  • American Association for Justice, $2.2 million (97% Democrats, 3% Republicans)
  • Honeywell International, $2 million (50% Democrats, 49.5% Republicans)
  • Comcast Corporation, $2 million (52% Democrats, 48% Republicans)
  • National Association of Home Builders, $1.95 million (22.5% Democrats, 77.5% Republicans)
  • National Multifamily Housing Council, $1.9 million (59% Democrats, 42% Republicans)
  • American Hospital Association, $1.75 million (56% Democrats, 44% Republicans)
  • American Council of Engineering Companies,  $1.7 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • United Parcel Service, $1.6 million (38% Democrats, 62% Republicans)
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, $1.6 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • American Optometric Association, $1.56 million (47% Democrats, 53% Republicans)

Which Candidates Received the Most?

For congressional candidates, corporate political donations are an important source of funding. In the House, where members must face voters every two years, candidates who are heavily funded by corporate and business association PACs often count on these sources for at least half of their money—and sometimes more. In the Senate, where terms are six years and war chests are far larger, corporate donations generally make up a smaller percentage. Here are the House and Senate candidates who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets. The list includes how much they received from business PACs and how much that contributed to their total fundraising.

U.S. House

In the House, committee assignments and leadership roles can have an impact on how much candidates raise from corporate PACs, which often try to anticipate who will wind up in positions of authority. For example, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, is a former chair of the House Republican Conference. It was well known that she could take the gavel of the Energy and Commerce Committee if Republicans won control of the chamber last year, and a great deal of corporate PAC money flowed her way. Republicans did take the chamber and McMorris now chairs the committee. Rep. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, was the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee during the election, a position that often draws financial support from companies. He lost the gavel when Republicans took charge, but he remains the ranking member. Here is the list of House members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), $3.15 million, 50%
  • Vernon Buchanan (R-FL-16), $2.2 million, 54%
  • Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), $2.15, 62%
  • Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), $2 million, 52%
  • Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), $2 million, 51%
  • Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05), $1.9 million, 48%
  • Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), $1.8 million, 53%
  • Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), $1.7 million, 55%
  • James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06), $1.7 million, 48%
  • Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), $1.7 million, 38%
  • Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), $1.6 million, 6%
  • Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), $1.6 million, 71%
  • Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), $1.6 million, 27%
  • Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), $1.6 million, 68%
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), $1.5 million, 33%
  • Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), $1.5 million, 17%
  • David Scott (D-GA-13), $1.5 million, 74%
  • Jason Smith (R-MO-08), $1.45 million, 45%
  • Rodney Davis (R-IL-15), $1.4 million, 44%
  • Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), $1.4 million, 8%

U.S. Senate

When looking at Senate numbers, it is important not only to recall that Senators serve a six-year term, but that fundraising and corporate support can vary greatly depending on circumstances. A senator with a competitive race or who holds a leadership post on an important committee will often raise more money, and that can also impact what percentage comes from corporate interests. For example, Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, is considering a presidential run and raised a whopping $51.7 million between 2017 and 2022, according to OpenSecrets. Accordingly, the $3.4 million he received from corporate PACs and business associations made up just 6.5 percent of his war chest despite being the highest dollar amount in the chamber. Here is the list of Senate members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Tim Scott (R-SC), $3.4 million, 6.5%
  • John Thune (R-SD), $3.3 million, 25%
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID), $2.7 million, 36%
  • John Boozman (R-AR), $2.6 million, 33%
  • Todd Young (R-IN) $2.6 million, 17%
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR), $2.5 million, 18%
  • Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), $2.5 million, 22%
  • Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), $2.4 million, 6%
  • Chuck Grassley (R-IA), $2.1 million, 20%
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS), $2.1 million, 28%
  • Patty Murray (D-WA), $2.1 million, 10%
  • Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), $2 million, 3%
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL), $2 million, 4%
  • Maggie Hassan (D-NH), $2 million, 5%
  • James Lankford (R-OK), $1.8 million, 25%
  • John Hoeven (R-ND), $1.4 million, 32%
  • Alex Padilla (D-CA), $1.3 million, 11%
  • Katie Britt (R-AL), $1.3 million, 11%
  • John Kennedy (R-LA), $1.2 million, 3%
  • Mike Lee (R-UT), $1.1 million, 9%

The Difference Between Democrat and Republican Fundraising

The common wisdom is that Republicans raise more corporate political donations than Democrats, but the difference is less dramatic when it comes to PACs. Republicans captured 55 percent of contributions from company PACs and business-related associations while Democrats captured 45 percent. There are some companies and associations that clearly favor one party or the other when they give to candidates. For example, some organizations support Republicans more strongly, including the National Auto Dealers Association (73% to Republicans), the American Bankers Association (69%), the National Association of Home Builders (77.5%), and United Parcel Service (62%). Others favor Democrats, including The American Hospital Association (56% to Democrats), the National Multifamily Housing Council (59%) and the American Association for Justice favor Democrats. The latter, which represents trial lawyers, is one of the most lopsided in all of politics, giving 97 percent to Democrats. But many organizations are less inclined to support candidates from one party over another in any pronounced way. For example, the two largest business PAC contributors, the National Association of Realtors and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, split their money fairly evenly between Republican and Democratic candidates and many others do so as well. In truth, most organizations will have to work with members of both parties. Congress is extremely divided and the margins are thin. In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 seats while Democrats hold 48 and get support from three independents much of the time, bringing them to 51. In the House, Republicans control 222 seats and Democrats hold 213, including a vacant district in Virginia recently won by a Democrat. A majority is 218. The situation means there will be tight competition for control of both chambers in 2024—and another big chase for corporate contributions. [post_title] => Which Party Receives More Corporate Donations? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => corporate-donations [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=8654 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 1 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8654 [post_author] => 43 [post_date] => 2023-03-01 18:43:53 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-03-01 18:43:53 [post_content] => As all public affairs professionals know, elections are extremely expensive and the numbers keep climbing as year-round campaigning becomes a necessity. Combined spending on the 2022 congressional races topped $8.9 billion, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign money. That’s a new record for midterm elections. Republicans spent roughly $4.2 billion and Democrats spent about $4 billion when money spent by candidates, political parties, and outside groups are totalled for the 2021-2022 election cycle. The money was used to pay for everything from television advertising to get-out-the-vote efforts. Corporate political donations—and especially money from corporate political action committees—are a major source of contributions for both parties. Because Congress and the administration have such a massive impact on companies, controlling everything from taxation and labor laws to the regulatory climate, scores of companies participate in the political process. PAC contributions are regulated, limited, and disclosed, and represent the most traditional way for companies to support candidates and political parties. Corporate political donations from company PACs and business-related associations totalled almost $344 million in the 2022 midterm, according to OpenSecrets. That includes about $154 million, or nearly 45 percent to Democrats and $189 million, or about 55 percent to Republicans.

Which Organizations Donate the Most?

For public affairs professionals and PAC managers, knowing how corporate and association PACs direct their money is important because it yields a more complete picture of the political landscape. Here are the 20 company and association PACs that spent the most overall on corporate political donations in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets:
  • National Association of Realtors, $36.4 million
  • Protect Our Future PAC, $28.2 million
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $18.2 million
  • American Dream Federal Action, $14.7 million
  • GMI PAC, $11.5 million
  • Crypto Freedom PAC, $8.75 million
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $8.5 million
  • American Association for Justice, $7.9 million
  • Honeywell International, $7.25 million
  • Credit Union National Association, $7.2 million
  • American Bankers Association, $7.1 million
  • Home Depot, $6.1 million
  • Web3 Forward, $5.9 million
  • American Hospital Association, $5.5 million
  • Boeing Company, $5 million
  • United Parcel Service, $4.7 million
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists, $4.4 million
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $4.4 million
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $4.3 million
  • American Resort Development Association, $4.3 million
Here are the 20 company and association PACs that gave the most to congressional candidates, and which party candidates received more:
  • National Association of Realtors, $4 million (50% Democrats, 50% Republicans)
  • National Beer Wholesalers Association, $3.2 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Credit Union National Association, $2.85 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • American Crystal Sugar, $2.6 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • AT&T Inc., $2.6 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $2.5 million (51% Democrats, 49% Republicans)
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $2.5 million (27% Democrats, 73% Republicans)
  • American Bankers Association, $2.4 million (31% Democrats, 69% Republicans)
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $2.3 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • Home Depot, $2.2 million (42% Democrats, 58% Republicans)
  • American Association for Justice, $2.2 million (97% Democrats, 3% Republicans)
  • Honeywell International, $2 million (50% Democrats, 49.5% Republicans)
  • Comcast Corporation, $2 million (52% Democrats, 48% Republicans)
  • National Association of Home Builders, $1.95 million (22.5% Democrats, 77.5% Republicans)
  • National Multifamily Housing Council, $1.9 million (59% Democrats, 42% Republicans)
  • American Hospital Association, $1.75 million (56% Democrats, 44% Republicans)
  • American Council of Engineering Companies,  $1.7 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • United Parcel Service, $1.6 million (38% Democrats, 62% Republicans)
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, $1.6 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • American Optometric Association, $1.56 million (47% Democrats, 53% Republicans)

Which Candidates Received the Most?

For congressional candidates, corporate political donations are an important source of funding. In the House, where members must face voters every two years, candidates who are heavily funded by corporate and business association PACs often count on these sources for at least half of their money—and sometimes more. In the Senate, where terms are six years and war chests are far larger, corporate donations generally make up a smaller percentage. Here are the House and Senate candidates who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets. The list includes how much they received from business PACs and how much that contributed to their total fundraising.

U.S. House

In the House, committee assignments and leadership roles can have an impact on how much candidates raise from corporate PACs, which often try to anticipate who will wind up in positions of authority. For example, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, is a former chair of the House Republican Conference. It was well known that she could take the gavel of the Energy and Commerce Committee if Republicans won control of the chamber last year, and a great deal of corporate PAC money flowed her way. Republicans did take the chamber and McMorris now chairs the committee. Rep. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, was the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee during the election, a position that often draws financial support from companies. He lost the gavel when Republicans took charge, but he remains the ranking member. Here is the list of House members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), $3.15 million, 50%
  • Vernon Buchanan (R-FL-16), $2.2 million, 54%
  • Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), $2.15, 62%
  • Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), $2 million, 52%
  • Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), $2 million, 51%
  • Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05), $1.9 million, 48%
  • Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), $1.8 million, 53%
  • Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), $1.7 million, 55%
  • James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06), $1.7 million, 48%
  • Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), $1.7 million, 38%
  • Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), $1.6 million, 6%
  • Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), $1.6 million, 71%
  • Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), $1.6 million, 27%
  • Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), $1.6 million, 68%
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), $1.5 million, 33%
  • Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), $1.5 million, 17%
  • David Scott (D-GA-13), $1.5 million, 74%
  • Jason Smith (R-MO-08), $1.45 million, 45%
  • Rodney Davis (R-IL-15), $1.4 million, 44%
  • Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), $1.4 million, 8%

U.S. Senate

When looking at Senate numbers, it is important not only to recall that Senators serve a six-year term, but that fundraising and corporate support can vary greatly depending on circumstances. A senator with a competitive race or who holds a leadership post on an important committee will often raise more money, and that can also impact what percentage comes from corporate interests. For example, Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, is considering a presidential run and raised a whopping $51.7 million between 2017 and 2022, according to OpenSecrets. Accordingly, the $3.4 million he received from corporate PACs and business associations made up just 6.5 percent of his war chest despite being the highest dollar amount in the chamber. Here is the list of Senate members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:
  • Tim Scott (R-SC), $3.4 million, 6.5%
  • John Thune (R-SD), $3.3 million, 25%
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID), $2.7 million, 36%
  • John Boozman (R-AR), $2.6 million, 33%
  • Todd Young (R-IN) $2.6 million, 17%
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR), $2.5 million, 18%
  • Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), $2.5 million, 22%
  • Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), $2.4 million, 6%
  • Chuck Grassley (R-IA), $2.1 million, 20%
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS), $2.1 million, 28%
  • Patty Murray (D-WA), $2.1 million, 10%
  • Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), $2 million, 3%
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL), $2 million, 4%
  • Maggie Hassan (D-NH), $2 million, 5%
  • James Lankford (R-OK), $1.8 million, 25%
  • John Hoeven (R-ND), $1.4 million, 32%
  • Alex Padilla (D-CA), $1.3 million, 11%
  • Katie Britt (R-AL), $1.3 million, 11%
  • John Kennedy (R-LA), $1.2 million, 3%
  • Mike Lee (R-UT), $1.1 million, 9%

The Difference Between Democrat and Republican Fundraising

The common wisdom is that Republicans raise more corporate political donations than Democrats, but the difference is less dramatic when it comes to PACs. Republicans captured 55 percent of contributions from company PACs and business-related associations while Democrats captured 45 percent. There are some companies and associations that clearly favor one party or the other when they give to candidates. For example, some organizations support Republicans more strongly, including the National Auto Dealers Association (73% to Republicans), the American Bankers Association (69%), the National Association of Home Builders (77.5%), and United Parcel Service (62%). Others favor Democrats, including The American Hospital Association (56% to Democrats), the National Multifamily Housing Council (59%) and the American Association for Justice favor Democrats. The latter, which represents trial lawyers, is one of the most lopsided in all of politics, giving 97 percent to Democrats. But many organizations are less inclined to support candidates from one party over another in any pronounced way. For example, the two largest business PAC contributors, the National Association of Realtors and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, split their money fairly evenly between Republican and Democratic candidates and many others do so as well. In truth, most organizations will have to work with members of both parties. Congress is extremely divided and the margins are thin. In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 seats while Democrats hold 48 and get support from three independents much of the time, bringing them to 51. In the House, Republicans control 222 seats and Democrats hold 213, including a vacant district in Virginia recently won by a Democrat. A majority is 218. The situation means there will be tight competition for control of both chambers in 2024—and another big chase for corporate contributions. [post_title] => Which Party Receives More Corporate Donations? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => corporate-donations [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-11-11 15:22:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://marketing-staging.quorum.us/?post_type=resources&p=8654 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => resources [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 1 [max_num_pages] => 0 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => 1 [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => 1 [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 3123727ec02adc6c96a42be4fca7f65f [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) )
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Which Party Receives More Corporate Donations?

Which Party Receives More Corporate Donations?

As all public affairs professionals know, elections are extremely expensive and the numbers keep climbing as year-round campaigning becomes a necessity. Combined spending on the 2022 congressional races topped $8.9 billion, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign money. That’s a new record for midterm elections.

Republicans spent roughly $4.2 billion and Democrats spent about $4 billion when money spent by candidates, political parties, and outside groups are totalled for the 2021-2022 election cycle. The money was used to pay for everything from television advertising to get-out-the-vote efforts.

Corporate political donations—and especially money from corporate political action committees—are a major source of contributions for both parties. Because Congress and the administration have such a massive impact on companies, controlling everything from taxation and labor laws to the regulatory climate, scores of companies participate in the political process.

PAC contributions are regulated, limited, and disclosed, and represent the most traditional way for companies to support candidates and political parties. Corporate political donations from company PACs and business-related associations totalled almost $344 million in the 2022 midterm, according to OpenSecrets. That includes about $154 million, or nearly 45 percent to Democrats and $189 million, or about 55 percent to Republicans.

Which Organizations Donate the Most?

For public affairs professionals and PAC managers, knowing how corporate and association PACs direct their money is important because it yields a more complete picture of the political landscape.

Here are the 20 company and association PACs that spent the most overall on corporate political donations in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets:

  • National Association of Realtors, $36.4 million
  • Protect Our Future PAC, $28.2 million
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce, $18.2 million
  • American Dream Federal Action, $14.7 million
  • GMI PAC, $11.5 million
  • Crypto Freedom PAC, $8.75 million
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $8.5 million
  • American Association for Justice, $7.9 million
  • Honeywell International, $7.25 million
  • Credit Union National Association, $7.2 million
  • American Bankers Association, $7.1 million
  • Home Depot, $6.1 million
  • Web3 Forward, $5.9 million
  • American Hospital Association, $5.5 million
  • Boeing Company, $5 million
  • United Parcel Service, $4.7 million
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists, $4.4 million
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $4.4 million
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $4.3 million
  • American Resort Development Association, $4.3 million

Here are the 20 company and association PACs that gave the most to congressional candidates, and which party candidates received more:

  • National Association of Realtors, $4 million (50% Democrats, 50% Republicans)
  • National Beer Wholesalers Association, $3.2 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Credit Union National Association, $2.85 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • American Crystal Sugar, $2.6 million (54% Democrats, 46% Republicans)
  • AT&T Inc., $2.6 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield, $2.5 million (51% Democrats, 49% Republicans)
  • National Auto Dealers Association, $2.5 million (27% Democrats, 73% Republicans)
  • American Bankers Association, $2.4 million (31% Democrats, 69% Republicans)
  • Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, $2.3 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • Home Depot, $2.2 million (42% Democrats, 58% Republicans)
  • American Association for Justice, $2.2 million (97% Democrats, 3% Republicans)
  • Honeywell International, $2 million (50% Democrats, 49.5% Republicans)
  • Comcast Corporation, $2 million (52% Democrats, 48% Republicans)
  • National Association of Home Builders, $1.95 million (22.5% Democrats, 77.5% Republicans)
  • National Multifamily Housing Council, $1.9 million (59% Democrats, 42% Republicans)
  • American Hospital Association, $1.75 million (56% Democrats, 44% Republicans)
  • American Council of Engineering Companies,  $1.7 million (49% Democrats, 51% Republicans)
  • United Parcel Service, $1.6 million (38% Democrats, 62% Republicans)
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, $1.6 million (41% Democrats, 59% Republicans)
  • American Optometric Association, $1.56 million (47% Democrats, 53% Republicans)

Which Candidates Received the Most?

For congressional candidates, corporate political donations are an important source of funding. In the House, where members must face voters every two years, candidates who are heavily funded by corporate and business association PACs often count on these sources for at least half of their money—and sometimes more. In the Senate, where terms are six years and war chests are far larger, corporate donations generally make up a smaller percentage.

Here are the House and Senate candidates who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs in the 2022 election, according to OpenSecrets. The list includes how much they received from business PACs and how much that contributed to their total fundraising.

U.S. House

In the House, committee assignments and leadership roles can have an impact on how much candidates raise from corporate PACs, which often try to anticipate who will wind up in positions of authority.

For example, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, is a former chair of the House Republican Conference. It was well known that she could take the gavel of the Energy and Commerce Committee if Republicans won control of the chamber last year, and a great deal of corporate PAC money flowed her way. Republicans did take the chamber and McMorris now chairs the committee. Rep. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, was the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee during the election, a position that often draws financial support from companies. He lost the gavel when Republicans took charge, but he remains the ranking member.

Here is the list of House members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:

  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), $3.15 million, 50%
  • Vernon Buchanan (R-FL-16), $2.2 million, 54%
  • Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), $2.15, 62%
  • Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10), $2 million, 52%
  • Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), $2 million, 51%
  • Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-05), $1.9 million, 48%
  • Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03), $1.8 million, 53%
  • Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-06), $1.7 million, 55%
  • James E. Clyburn (D-SC-06), $1.7 million, 48%
  • Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), $1.7 million, 38%
  • Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), $1.6 million, 6%
  • Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), $1.6 million, 71%
  • Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), $1.6 million, 27%
  • Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), $1.6 million, 68%
  • Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), $1.5 million, 33%
  • Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), $1.5 million, 17%
  • David Scott (D-GA-13), $1.5 million, 74%
  • Jason Smith (R-MO-08), $1.45 million, 45%
  • Rodney Davis (R-IL-15), $1.4 million, 44%
  • Steve Scalise (R-LA-01), $1.4 million, 8%

U.S. Senate

When looking at Senate numbers, it is important not only to recall that Senators serve a six-year term, but that fundraising and corporate support can vary greatly depending on circumstances. A senator with a competitive race or who holds a leadership post on an important committee will often raise more money, and that can also impact what percentage comes from corporate interests. For example, Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, is considering a presidential run and raised a whopping $51.7 million between 2017 and 2022, according to OpenSecrets. Accordingly, the $3.4 million he received from corporate PACs and business associations made up just 6.5 percent of his war chest despite being the highest dollar amount in the chamber.

Here is the list of Senate members who received the most money from corporate and business association PACs:

  • Tim Scott (R-SC), $3.4 million, 6.5%
  • John Thune (R-SD), $3.3 million, 25%
  • Mike Crapo (R-ID), $2.7 million, 36%
  • John Boozman (R-AR), $2.6 million, 33%
  • Todd Young (R-IN) $2.6 million, 17%
  • Ron Wyden (D-OR), $2.5 million, 18%
  • Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), $2.5 million, 22%
  • Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), $2.4 million, 6%
  • Chuck Grassley (R-IA), $2.1 million, 20%
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS), $2.1 million, 28%
  • Patty Murray (D-WA), $2.1 million, 10%
  • Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), $2 million, 3%
  • Marco Rubio (R-FL), $2 million, 4%
  • Maggie Hassan (D-NH), $2 million, 5%
  • James Lankford (R-OK), $1.8 million, 25%
  • John Hoeven (R-ND), $1.4 million, 32%
  • Alex Padilla (D-CA), $1.3 million, 11%
  • Katie Britt (R-AL), $1.3 million, 11%
  • John Kennedy (R-LA), $1.2 million, 3%
  • Mike Lee (R-UT), $1.1 million, 9%

The Difference Between Democrat and Republican Fundraising

The common wisdom is that Republicans raise more corporate political donations than Democrats, but the difference is less dramatic when it comes to PACs. Republicans captured 55 percent of contributions from company PACs and business-related associations while Democrats captured 45 percent.

There are some companies and associations that clearly favor one party or the other when they give to candidates. For example, some organizations support Republicans more strongly, including the National Auto Dealers Association (73% to Republicans), the American Bankers Association (69%), the National Association of Home Builders (77.5%), and United Parcel Service (62%). Others favor Democrats, including The American Hospital Association (56% to Democrats), the National Multifamily Housing Council (59%) and the American Association for Justice favor Democrats. The latter, which represents trial lawyers, is one of the most lopsided in all of politics, giving 97 percent to Democrats.

But many organizations are less inclined to support candidates from one party over another in any pronounced way. For example, the two largest business PAC contributors, the National Association of Realtors and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, split their money fairly evenly between Republican and Democratic candidates and many others do so as well.

In truth, most organizations will have to work with members of both parties. Congress is extremely divided and the margins are thin. In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 seats while Democrats hold 48 and get support from three independents much of the time, bringing them to 51. In the House, Republicans control 222 seats and Democrats hold 213, including a vacant district in Virginia recently won by a Democrat. A majority is 218. The situation means there will be tight competition for control of both chambers in 2024—and another big chase for corporate contributions.

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