The corporations trying to save Kevin McCarthy and the insurrection caucus.
Ford, Walmart, J&J, T-Mobile, Chevron, and other major corporations are supporting McCarthy’s effort to re-elect the 147 election objectors.
Hours after an angry mob aimed at the U.S. Capitol determined to stop the work of our nation’s democracy armed with flex cuffs, bear spray, firearms, and a gallows, Kevin McCarthy and 70 percent of his caucus voted to overturn the November presidential election. Soon after, corporate America spoke up.
Over 170 corporations publicly suspended their political contributions to the 147 members of Congress who voted to decertify the election results. Dozens more of their affiliated trade associations did the same. It was a promising show of force from the business community and a sign that real accountability was afoot.
According to quarterly filings submitted in April, nearly all corporations kept their promise with a few exceptions like Toyota who gave directly to 42 of the 147 despite initially committing to suspending contributions. Of the 1,100 corporate PACs who gave to the 147 election objectors over the 2019–20 cycle, less than 70 gave in the first quarter of 2021.
As a result, the election objectors raised 80 percent less from corporate, trade association, and labor PACs than they did at the same point in the 2019–20 cycle with most not able to make up that gap. These House members are looking to Kevin McCarthy and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the McCarthy controlled campaign war chest for the House to fill their campaign’s financial holes.
McCarthy has always been a prolific fundraiser and it is the primary reason he was elected to lead the House Republican caucus. The first quarter numbers were not good for his members and he’s looking to bring back corporate PAC contributions by calling them out for corporate “wokeness”, diminishing and covering up President Trump’s culpability for the riots, and continuing to block an independent investigation into the events on and around January 6th.
According to the most recent monthly filings submitted earlier in May, McCarthy still has some work to do. McCarthy’s campaign, leadership PAC, and the NRCC, which he effectively controls, combined have raised $2.6 million less from corporate, labor, and trade PACs than what they raised at this point last cycle. But there are signs that corporate giving is starting to pick up. Several corporations are reversing course on their initial commitment and others who made no commitment are following their lead with contributions to McCarthy’s campaign chests. The largest increase in giving is to the NRCC, which allows corporate PACs to avoid making contributions directly to any election objector and give to the larger House Republican campaign coffer. The problem with that, however, is these contributions will help to elect House incumbents 70 percent of which voted to overturn the election.
This change of heart from the business community is not due to any work to repair the damage from McCarthy, his actions since January 6th have defended the aims of the insurrectionists’ goals by punishing members in his conference who confronted the former president’s lies about the election and defended those who pushed them. Instead corporations are hoping the American public won’t notice.
So with that here’s a list of corporations who are supporting McCarthy and the NRCC after the events of 1/6:
TRANSPORTATION/AUTOMOTIVE
- Ford. $2,500 directly to McCarthy’s campaign in April after making this initial statement in January:
“Ford condemns the violent actions that happened this week, which contradict the ideals of a free and fair election and a peaceful transition of power. Our employee PAC contributes to candidates who support policies critical to Ford’s employees, communities and jobs. Events over the past year have underscored the need for a broader, ongoing discussion about other relevant considerations.”
- CSX. $5,000 to McCarthy’s leadership PAC in April and $15,000 to the NRCC in February.
- NetJets. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Polaris Industries. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Copart Inc. $10,000 to McCarthy’s campaign committee in April and another $5,000 to his leadership PAC in March.
TECH/TELECOM
It “will not contribute to members of Congress who voted against certification of the Electoral College results.”
“Oracle PAC has decided to pause contributions to anyone who voted against certifying the Nov. 2020 elections.”
- iHeartMedia (Clear Channel). $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- T-Mobile. $15,000 to the NRCC in February after releasing this statement in January:
“The assault on the U.S. Capitol and on democracy was unacceptable. T-Mobile has supported many elected officials in a bipartisan approach to advancing a policy agenda that keeps the U.S. on the forefront of wireless technology. In light of recent events, we intend to reevaluate our PAC giving, and we look forward to working with the incoming administration.”
BANKING/FINANCE
“Cigna PAC will discontinue support of any elected official who encouraged or supported violence, or otherwise hindered a peaceful transition.”
- U.S. Bank. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
- Carlyle Investment Management. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
- Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. $5,000 to the NRCC in February.
- Compass Bancshares. $15,000 to the NRCC in February.
- Navient. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
PHARMACEUTICAL
The corporation would be “cutting off donations to members of the Senate and House of Representatives who objected to certifying any state electoral results.”
- Johnson & Johnson. $15,000 to the NRCC in April after initially pausing all political contributions.
- Merck. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
RETAILERS
- Walmart. $30,000 to the NRCC in April after making this statement in January:
“In light of last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol, Walmart’s political action committee is indefinitely suspending contributions to those members of Congress who voted against the lawful certification of state electoral college votes.”
PAC giving is “under review based on the events of the past few weeks.”
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS
its “employee PAC is currently paused while they review the budget and any governance changes to possibly implement in the new cycle.”
- BWX. $15,000 to the NRCC in March and nearly $10,000 directly to the campaigns of the147 election objectors combined this cycle thus far.
- Cubic Corp. $5,000 to the NRCC in March and a combined $26,500 directly to the campaigns of the 147 election objectors.
- General Atomics. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
UTILITIES/ENERGY
- PG&E. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Duke Energy. $15,000 to the NRCC in April after releasing this statement in January:
“We were shocked and dismayed by the events at the Capitol last week. Duke Energy is taking this very seriously and taking a pause on all federal political contributions for 30 days. During this time, we are evaluating Duke Energy-supported candidates’ values and actions to ensure they align to our values and goals. The way members of Congress conducted themselves in this critical time will be an important consideration in future support.”
- Xcel Energy. $15,000 to the NRCC in February.
- Keyspan Energy. $5,000 to the NRCC in January.
- NextEra Energy. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
- General Electric. $15,000 to the NRCC in April after releasing this statement in January:
“The GEPAC board has voted to suspend donations to those who voted to oppose the Electoral College results. This is not a decision we made lightly, but is one we believe is important to ensure that our future contributions continue to reflect our company’s values and commitment to democracy.”
LAW/PR FIRMS
- Arnold & Porter. $15,000 to the NRCC in February.
- K&L Gates. $5,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Van Scoyoc Associates. $5,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Dykema Gossett. $5,000 in March.
- Brownstein, Hyatt, & Farber. $15,000 in March.
- Salem Communications Corp. $5,000 to McCarthy’s leadership PAC in April.
HEALTH CARE
- Molina Healthcare. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Baxter Healthcare. $5,000 to the NRCC in April.
- Health Care Service Corporation. $15,000 to the NRCC in April.
- Fresenius Medical Care. $5,000 to McCarthy’s leadership PAC in April and $15,000 to the NRCC in February.
MINING
- Alliance Coal. $15,000 to the NRCC in March.
- Statewide Minerals Company. $5,000 to McCarthy’s leadership PAC in April, $14,200 to the NRCC in March, and $2,900 directly to McCarthy’s campaign in March.
OTHER
- Chevron. $10,000 to McCarthy’s campaign in May after releasing this statement in January:
“We continue our practice of regularly reviewing our policies, procedures and expenditures for political activities, including political contributions. The events of the past week will be part of our review process. Chevron engages with many people and organizations that take positions on a range of topics. We are not always aligned with all their views, but it is important for us to be part of discussions on important issues, including respect for the rule of law. As we said last week, the violence in Washington, D.C. tarnishes a two-century tradition of respect for the rule of law. We look forward to engaging with President-Elect Biden and his administration to move the nation forward.”
- Wynn Resorts. $5,000 to NRCC in January.
- Altria. $15,000 to the NRCC in April after releasing this statement in January:
“Altria strongly condemns the violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol. January 6 was a dark day in American history, and we look forward to the peaceful transition of power that will occur on January 20. We have a long history of supporting policy makers on both sides of the aisle because participation in the political and public policy processes is vital to our business, and serves the best interests of our shareholders, employees, trade partners and adult consumers. We have spent the past few days discussing the right path forward and have decided, at this time, to suspend all political contributions while we re-examine our existing contribution criteria and guiding principles.”
- Dow Chemical. $5,000 to NRCC in March after the its CEO paused contributions to election objectors saying this to employees in an internal memo:
“Words alone are not enough. We are committed to action.”
