* Public Integrity has compiled a list of the top 50 campaign contributors to state political races last year…
1. Republican Governors Association - A national group that advocates for the election of Republican governors.
$68.6 million
2. Democratic Governors Association - A national group that advocates for the election of Democratic governors.
$31.6 million
3. Charlie Crist campaign committee - The campaign committee of Florida’s unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.
$28.6 million
4. Let’s Get To Work - Political action committee affiliated with Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott and funded largely by the Republican Governors Association.
$19.5 million
5. NextGen Climate Action Committee - A national group run by billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer that backs pro-environment candidates and groups.
$19.4 million
6. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - A national labor union that represents government employees.
$19.2 million
7. Bruce and Diana Rauner - Newly elected Republican governor of Illinois, who made his fortune in private equity, and his wife.
$14.4 million […]
10. Tom and Frances Wolf - Newly elected Democratic governor of Pennsylvania and kitchen cabinet magnate.
$10 million […]
15. Ken Griffin and Anne Dias Griffin - Conservative billionaire hedge fund manager and his soon-to-be ex-wife, also a hedge fund manager.
$7.5 million […]
29. Illinois Education Association - The Illinois chapter of the National Education Association, a labor union that represents public school employees.
$4.6 million […]
40. Bruce Rauner campaign committee - The campaign of the newly elected Republican governor of Illinois.
$4.1 million […]
43. Illinois Democratic Party - State branch of the Democratic Party.
$3.9 million
The RGA and DGA both played a major role in Illinois as well, of course.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
Sometimes the truth doesn’t match the rhetoric. Go figure.
- AC - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
Say what you will about money in politics, this windfall has helped keep the lights in a lit of smaller media outlets. Funny that big bad AFSCME only roughly match Bruce and Diana Rauner, not even counting money the Rauners gave to other groups on the list.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 1:45 pm:
Cue The O’Jays.
- here we go - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 1:53 pm:
So, labor unions should be prohibited from making contributions to campaigns for officials who employ their members, but a governor should be permitted to make contributions to campaigns that support legislators who vote on their legislative agenda.
Got it.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 2:55 pm:
This says it all to me….not what the founding fathers had in mind….
- Apocalypse Now - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 3:53 pm:
“show me the Money!”
- Belle - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
Absurd. How did we get here?
Citizens United needs to be re-evaluated. All of the campaign money process should be looked at and reconsidered. This is sad, not the way a democratic process should appear. I hope more people see this list on a National level.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 28, 15 @ 5:51 pm:
Barkfest