Some of the largest and best-known companies in the United States donated more than $8 million to U.S. House and Senatorial candidates who denied the results of the 2020 presidential election.
By reviewing filings to the Federal Election Commission, Accountable.US found that the twenty largest corporations in the country— such as AT&T, Boeing, Delta Air Lines, and Home Depot— collectively provided millions to Republican nominees who lied about President Joe Biden's victory over former president Donald Trump.
While the twenty largest companies donated around $8 million, an earlier analysis from Accountable.US found that overall, election deniers received a total of $65 million from U.S. corporations.
Koch Industries, the second-largest privately owned company in the nation, provided the greatest amount to election deniers, with a total of $771,000 in funds. The oil corporation has a reputation for using its revenue to push conservative politics.
Days after the insurrection, Boeing released a statement saying it “strongly condemns the violence, lawlessness and destruction that took place in the US Capitol." In 2022, they donated $418,000 to election denier campaigns.
The American Crystal Sugar Company Pac spent $630,000 on the campaigns of election deniers, with AT&T contributing $579,000 and Home Depot $578,000.
Earlier this year, AT&T said in a statement that they donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates who focus “on policies and regulations that are important to investing in broadband networks.”
“A contribution to an elected official does not mean our employee PACs support or agree with every position the official takes," they told The Texas Tribune. “Our employee PAC suspended contributions to those lawmakers’ campaigns for more than a year.”
In contrast to their claims, AT&T was the third-largest donor to election deniers' campaigns.
Fortunately, of the 244 election deniers running, 81 were defeated. President of Accountable.US Kyle Herrig told The Guardian that their losses might signal a change in strategy from companies.
He said: “Voters’ rejection of numerous election objectors at the polls should send a clear message to corporations that prioritizing political influence over a healthy democracy could threaten their own bottom line."
