“Guardian angel” donors have poured $284.6 million into 36 super PACs during the 2022 midterm cycle, according to a new analysis by OpenSecrets.
These angel donors contributed more then 40% of the total funds raised by a Super PAC. In some cases, superPACs are almost entirely funded by angel donors.
The vast majority (98%) of super PACs don’t raise their money from one source. These are the 2,163 superPACs that were tracked by OpenSecretsHave raisedDuring the 2022 midterm elections, more than $1.1 billion was spent and $232 million was spent.
Angel donors contributed $155 million to liberal super PACs, and $118.8 millions to conservative super PACs. An additional $5.8million was devoted to non-partisan superPACs.
OpenSecrets’ analysis breaks down the biggest names and numbers so far this election cycle, but readers can browse the full dataset here.
Liberal Super PACs Get a boost from their Billionaire Founders
Democratic mega-donor George SorosIs currently the topIndividual super PAC donor for 2022 midterm elections. He has contributed $126million to the $155million angel donations that have given to liberal super-PACs so far in this election cycle. ForbesThe founder of the hedge-fund estimates Soros Fund ManagementPhilanthropic initiatives and the philanthropic Open Society FoundationsIt’s worth it $8.6 billion.
The billionaire invested $125 million in launching the company his super PAC, Democracy PAC IIThis contributes millions to otherLiberal super PACs such as the Senate Majority PACOder the House Majority PACInstead of buying an ad by itself.
While Soros’ contribution dwarfs others made so far this cycle, a Soros spokesman told OpenSecretsDemocracy PAC II is unlikely to spend $125 million in this cycle. While he could not provide an exact number, the spokesman said, “I would doubt it’s going to come out to the level of the last cycle.”
Soros and the original were both present during the 2020 election cycle. Democracy PACContributed $81.4 million to super PACs. During the last general elections, Senate Majority PAC received $11.5million in Democracy PAC contributions. Democracy PAC II contributed $5 millionSenate Majority PAC in this cycle.
Soros also contributed $1 millionTo Color of Change PAC, the hybrid PAC arm of progressive racial group Color of Change. Color of Change PAC raised $2.5 million this cycle.
New York’s Other Billionaires Michael BloombergContributed $562,000The nearly $641,000 that he raised was super PAC, Independence USA PAC.
Forbes estimates that Forbes’ net worth is approximately $2.5 billion. $82 billion, spent large during the 2020 election in which his Democratic presidential nomination was not secured. Bloomberg also ran his presidential campaign. $1 billionBefore he dropped outHe was the winner of the race in March 2020 and contributed over $67.3 millionDuring the 2020 election cycle, Independence USA PAC.
Bloomberg, who ran during the 2020 election cycle for the Democratic presidential nomination, contributed. $98 millionHe was also a super PAC donor during the cycle, making him the second-largest individual donation. He is currently the 29th highest individual donor and has contributed almost $1.3 million. $1.6 millionThis is the end of this cycle.
Mega-Donors Give to Super PACs to Support Alleged Abusers
Conservative mega-donor Richard UihleinThe founder of the shipping and business supplies company, ULINE, has donated $31.6 million as an angel donation to four super PACs in this cycle.
Uihlein is always a top individual donorAccording to OpenSecretsData, with an estimated wealth $4 billion. He was the third-largest super PAC donor, having contributed $65 Million to them during the 2020 election cycle.
Bernard Marcus and Uihlein, co-founders of Home Depot, whose net worth is $5.6 billion, were angel donors to super PACs supporting Missouri Senate candidate and former Gov. Eric Greitens (R). Uihlein donated $2.5 million by Team PACMarcus and, donated $1 million for the Missouri First Action. Both are super PACs that support Greitens with single-candidates
Greitens resignedAfter allegations of sexual misconduct, Greitens was elected governor in 2018. Greitens’ ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, also accused her ex-husband of emotional and physical abuse toward her and their children in an affidavitFiled March.
These contributions were made by Marcus as well as Uihlein, before Sheena Greitens filed a statement.
Marcus was the angel donor for two super PACs that support candidates with credible allegations of domestic abuse against them. He also gave nearly $1.8 million. 34N22 Inc, a super PAC with a single candidate that spent $200,000 to support former National Football League star Herschel Walker.
Uihlein also contributed $1 million34N22 Inc March 2022
Walker told Axios in December that he was “accountable” for violent acts he committed against his ex-wife. He won the Georgia Senate GOP primary on Tuesday and will now face Sen. Raphael Warnock (D–Ga.) in the November general election.
Marcus and Uihlein were not able to respond. OpenSecrets’ requests for comment.
Conservative Mega-Donors Pour Money Into Super PACs
Lawrence Ellison (CEO of Oracle), donated $20 million to The Foundation Opportunity Matters Fund. Bloomberg estimates Ellison’s net worth to be $90.6 billion.
The super PAC is alignedSen. Tim Scott (R–S.C.) During the 2022 midterms, it has raised $21.6 Million. Opportunity Matters FundHas poured $760,000 into spending outside to support Republican Congressional candidate in Texas, Ohio, Georgia.
Opportunity Matters Fund spent $492,000 on video production, TV placement and direct mail supporting Wesley Hunt in the GOP primary in Texas’ 38th Congressional District — the most it spent on any candidate this election cycle. Hunt won the March primary, and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R–Texas), who enjoyed a $99,000 boost from the super PAC, in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.
Ellison also gave $1 million to the Tennessee Conservatives PAC, a single-candidate super PAC that backed Morgan Ortagus in the state’s 5th Congressional District. Ortagus, a former State Department employee, was removed by the Republican Party of Tennessee spokeswomanWho was endorsed and supported by the former President Donald Trump, and two other candidates from the ballot in April, as they had not met the party’s requirementTo vote in three of the four most recent statewide primary elections.
As OpenSecretsPreviously reportedPeter Thiel, the co-founder of Paypal has invested $23.5 million in the Ohio and Arizona GOP primaries. With an estimated net worth at $1.5 billion $7.6 billionThiel contributed $15 millionTo the Protect Ohio Values, the super PAC that supported him as a single-candidate candidate former employee J.D. VanceThe Ohio Senate GOP primary.
Thiel also donated $13.5 Million to Saving Arizona, the super PAC supporting another friend and former employee of Thiel’s, Blake Masters, who’s seeking to unseat Sen. Mark Kelly (D–Ariz.). Thiel initiated the super PAC with a $10,000,000 donation in April 2021. The Washington Post reported Thiel made another donation. $3.5 million contribution after Vance’s GOP primary victory in early May.
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin spent big during a contentious Pennsylvania Senate raceThis is currently being recounted. As OpenSecretsPreviously reportedGriffin contributedHonor Pennsylvania, a superPAC supporting the state, has raised over $7.5 million former hedge fund executive Dave McCormickIn the Senate GOP primary, May 17. Bloomberg estimates Griffin’s net worth is $29.4 billion.
McCormick vs. celebrity doctor turned politician Mehmet OzTrump’s endorsed candidate, Jeremy, recently visited a recountThe two candidates were separated by less than 1,000 votes
Jeffrey YassManaging director and co-founder of Susquehanna International GroupWith an estimated net worth at $12 billionContributed $15 millionTo the conservative super PAC School Freedom Fund.
AffiliatedWith the conservative Club for GrowthWhich? endorses candidates on a range of issues, School Freedom Fund is “Empowering Parents Over Education Bureaucrats.”
Some of this season’s most contentious primaries have attracted spending by the super PAC. School Freedom Fund spent a total of $250,000 in West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional DistrictTrump-endorsed Rep. Alex Mooney (R–W.Va.) To victoryRep. David McKinley (R–W.Va.) In a fight between two incumbents.
The super PAC contributed $1.5 million more to the North Carolina Senate GOP primary. Pat McCroryTed Budd, who received a key endorsement by Trump, won the election for Rep. Claudette, who was the target of most of the super PAC’s money. The super PAC also spent $665,000 supporting Rep. Mo Brooks (R–Ala.), who advanced to a runoff against Katie BrittIn Alabama’s Senate GOP primary.
School Freedom Fund spent almost $500,000 in Nevada’s upcoming Republican primary to boost Adam Laxalt, who was also endorsed by both TrumpThe Club for Growth.
Yass contributed an additional $5 millionTo the Kentucky Freedom PAC, a super PAC that supports Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.). Paul wonHis GOP Senate primary race was last Tuesday. He will face a Kentucky state Rep. Charles Booker, a Democrat in the November general elections.
Nonpartisan Super PACs Attract Big-Name Donors
Yass also contributed $1 Million Term Limits ActionThe nonpartisan super PAC has raised $2.3million so far in this election cycle. The nonpartisan super PAC is aimsto enact term limitations for all elected officials. As of May 31, no money was spent to support or oppose any candidates.
A super PAC that supports veterans candidates. With Honor FundThis cycle, he received $4 million from the Bezos Family. Honor Fund has raised $5.5million and as OpenSecretsPreviously reported, JacklynAnd Miguel BezosThe parents of Amazon founders Jeff BezosEach of them donated $2 million towards the super PAC in advance of the 2022 midterms. 2022 marks the third election cycle in the history of the super PAC in which the majority of contributions came from members of the Bezos clan. $12.2 millionIn 2018 contributions $2 million2020
Honor Fund has spent approximately $190,000Up to 2022 federal elections. The super PAC expenditure $113,000 on billboard advertising and direct mail for Emily Beach, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in California’s 15th Congressional District, $71,000 for direct mail supporting Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D–Calif.) in California’s 19th Congressional District. California will hold its primary election June 7.
The super PAC also spent $6,000On billboard advertising for Stu Benjamin-Israel lost the GOP primary election in Indiana’s 9th Congressional DistrictIn May, early.
Disclaimer: The Center for Responsive Politics merged with the National Institute on Money in Politics to create OpenSecretsIn 2021, previously received funding through Open Society Foundations.
