Leveling The Playing Field
The fundraising totals are thanks in part to WinRed, which was created by Republicans in 2019 and is their version of Democrats ActBlue.
Like an Amazon for causes and candidates, the platforms streamline the giving process by saving donors credit card information to allow for one-click contributions, providing a central hub for the parties and their allied groups.
ActBlue has processed nearly $8.9 billion in donations since its founding in 2004. Republicans had fought for years among themselves over how to create an alternative and who would run it. It finally happened two years ago, when Trump and his allies pressed party bossesto coalesce behind one platform ahead of his re-election campaign.
Building on the foundation of Trumps unusual-for-Republicans success in online fundraising, WinRed has helped raise $2.3 billion for GOP candidates since it launched, with an average contribution of about $50.
Republicans would always lose small-dollar donations. Now we win, or do very well, because we are the Party of Working Americans, and we beat the Democrats at their own game, Trump said in April. We learned from liberal ActBlue and now were better than they are!
Or as Gerrit Lansing, president of WinRed, told Fox News, “The good guys have leveled the playing field of online fundraising.
The money could be critical in next years midterms and beyond.
Social Media’s Growing Impact
Political analysts said corporations increasingly are susceptible to blowback from consumers on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.;If individuals oppose a company’s stance on an issue, a donation it has made or its association with a specific politician, these platforms can be used to encourage shoppers to boycott their products or simply bring bad press.
“Social media makes it possible for advocacy organizations to punish opponents for political actions and negative news travels faster and farther than PR departments can keep up,”;Betty Smith, a retired political science professor at the University of South Dakota, said in an email. “The more a corporation can distance itself from its donations, the safer they are in the current divisive atmosphere.”
Earlier this summer,;Goya was called out;when its CEO Robert Unanue praised President Donald Trump in a speech at the White House. Thousands of people on social media called for shoppers to stop buying from the company.;The phrase #BoycottGoya;quickly startedtrending. Two months later,;Oatly came under fire from activists and consumers threatened boycotts after the company signed a $200 million deal in July;that included an investment from private equity firm Blackstone Growth, headed by a major Trump donor.;
“What you are seeing is few companies risking their brands being called out. The whole atmosphere has caused people to go underground and not be seen.”
Juda Engelmayer
President,;HeraldPR;
History Of The Republican Party
The Republican Party came into existence just prior to the Civil War due to their long-time stance in favor of abolition of slavery. They were a small third-party who nominated John C. Freemont for President in 1856. In 1860 they became an established political party when their nominee Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States. Lincolns Presidency throughout the war, including his policies to end slavery for good helped solidify the Republican Party as a major force in American politics. The elephant was chosen as their symbol in 1874 based on a cartoon in Harpers Weekly that depicted the new party as an elephant.
Also Check: Did Republicans And Democrats Switch Names
You May Like: How Many Republicans Are Now In The House Of Representatives
Investor George Marcus And His Wife Judith Gave $9610125 Mostly To Democrats
Total donations: $9,610,125
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Net worth: $1.5 billion
George Marcus is the founder of real-estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap Company, according to the company’s website. Marcus is also the chairman of Essex Property Trust, a multi-family real-estate investment trust, and he serves on the board of California-based commercial bank Greater Bay Bancorp.
The Marcuses gave $10,400 to Republicans in 2018, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The rest went to Democrats.
Americas Top 10 Richest Families
You May Like: Can Registered Republicans Vote In Democratic Primaries
Linda Mcmahon Wife Of Vince Mcmahon
Spouses net worth: $1.9 billion
Contributions: $18.4 million
Equivalent donation for median American household: $1,180
In 2017 former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon took a cabinet position in the Trump White House, serving as head of the Small Business Administration. She left that gig in 2019 to lead the pro-Trump super-PAC America First Action and ended up pouring $15.7 million into the group.
Facts About Us Political Donations
Americans are increasingly likely to make political donations, with the share of adults who say they have donated directly to candidates doubling since 1992, according to data from;American National Election Studies;. Political donations from individuals represent a large share of campaign funding: In the 2016 election cycle, 71% of Hillary Clintons fundraising total and 40% of Donald Trumps;came from individual contributions, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Here are five facts about political donations from individual donors:
1MoreAmericans are making politicaldonations. Americans are now more likely to contribute to political candidates and parties than they were two decades ago, according to surveys conducted as part of ANES. The share of Americans who say they have donated to an individual running for public office within the past year has doubled, increasing from 6% in 1992 to 12% in 2016. The share of those who say they have donated to parties has also increased, rising from 4% to 9% across the same period, while the share making donations to outside groups working to elect or defeat a candidate such as political action committees has remained between 3% and 6%. Overall, the share of Americans who say they have donated to at least one of these groups within the past year has increased from 11% in 1992 to 15% in 2016.
Note: See full topline results;from the Sept. 27-Oct. 10, 2016, Pew Research Center survey .
You May Like: How Many Republicans Voted Against Budget
Gop Faces Fundraising Reckoning As Democrats Rake In Cash
Republicans are facing a post-election reckoning about how they cultivate small-dollar donors.
Regardless of who wins on Nov. 3, GOP lawmakers and officials say there needs to be a party-wide discussion about how to better fundraise as the coronavirus pandemic magnifies the importance of digital efforts at a time when in-person events are dramatically scaled back.
Republicans, playing defense as they try to hold on to the Senate majority and the White House, have watched Democrats rake in a mountain of cash that has helped move deep-red states into toss-up territory and set off alarms throughout the GOP.
Im sure well be going to school on how the Democrats are so successful, because we just cant afford to be outspent by these huge margins and expect to be successful, said Sen. John CornynJohn CornynDemocrats to make pitch Friday for pathway to citizenship in spending billWithout major changes, more Americans could be victims of online crime‘New normal’: GOP signals big headaches for Biden after midtermsMORE , who is up for reelection this year.
Asked if the party needed a post-election examination of how to better cultivate small-dollar donors, Sen. John Thune
Theyve created a mechanism thats very effective, and were trying to catch up, Thune said, noting Republicans were just getting crushed.
That set off behind-the-scenes alarm bells among Republicans.
Johnson predicted that Republicans would find their footing with time.
Libs Arent Happy With Nike
Phil Knight is a rich white man, writes Stephen A. Crockett at The Root. And rich white men are always going to support other rich white men.
He went on to complain that both Nike and New Balance overwhelmingly support the Republican Party.;Indeed,;New Balance employees have given most of their political contributions to conservative outside groups and Republicans, even more so than Nike.
Nike, Crockett complains, the big company with the conscience, is in line with white supremacys favorite sneaker New Balance.
These days, even inanimate objects like;shoes are white supremacist.
Read Also: Why Are Republicans Siding With Trump
Will Conservatives View Nike Differently Now
Perhaps those conservatives burning their Nike shoes and socks will reconsider upon learning that the company actually supports the GOP.
Or maybe they wont,;recognizing that the message Kaepernick sends kneeling before the flag and protesting law enforcement is a bridge too far.
Either way, knowing that money brought in by Colin Kaepernick is going to support Republicans has to bring a smile to your face. With that in mind, enjoy this pro-MAGA version of the Nike commercial.
The Nike commercial MAGA deserves.
Former Breitbart News Investor Robert Mercer And His Wife Diana Have Given $6544024 To Conservatives
Total donations: $6,544,024
Party: Republican
Net worth: Unknown
Robert Mercer, 73, is the former co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund valued at $50 million in 2017, according to The New York Times. Mercer left the hedge fund in 2017 after clients, including the retirement fund for Baltimore’s police and firefighters, withdrew their investments from Renaissance over concern about Mercer’s political donations and involvement with Breitbart, The Times reported.
The $6.5 million that Robert and his wife Diana donated to Republicans in 2018 was the smallest figure they’ve given in any election cycle since 2012, CNBC reported. The couple, once among President Trump’s biggest supporters, have become fatigued by the resulting media attention, sources told CNBC.
Don’t Miss: Which Republicans Are Running For President
How Come We Are Red And Blue Instead Of Purple
- Republicans to live outside of urban areas, while Democrats tend to prefer living inside of urban areas.
- Rural areas are almost exclusively Republican well strong urban areas are almost exclusively democratic.
- Republicans also tend to stress traditional family values, which may be why only 1 out of 4 GLBTQI individuals identify with the GOP.
- 63% of people who earn more than $200k per year vote for Republicans, while 63% of people who earn less than $15k per year vote for Democrats.
- 64% of Americans believe that labor unions are necessary to protect working people, but only 43% of GOP identified votes view labor unions in a favorable way.
The economics of the United States seem to have greatly influenced how people identify themselves when it comes to their preferred political party. People who are concerned about their quality of life and have a fair amount of money tend to vote Republican. Those who have fallen on hard times or work in union related jobs tend to vote for Democrats. From 2003 to today, almost all of demographic gaps have been shifting so that Republicans and Democrats are supported equally. The only true difference is on the extremes of the income scale. The one unique fact about Democrats is that they are as bothered by their standard of living as Republicans tend to be.
Read Also: How Are Democrats Different From Republicans
Nike Donates Three Times As Much To Gop Than Democrats
While leftists have been singing the praises of Nikes new push to prop up social justice warriors like Colin Kaepernick, a new analysis reveals that the company has donated more than three times more to Republicans this election cycle than Democrats.
The company has served the anti-cop niche of the over-priced sneaker market by adding Kaepernick to their list of celebrity spokespeople particularly on their Just Do It;campaign. The decision;has;sparked backlash;on;social media and some complaints;from investors.
For the left, however, adding a cop-hating, America-loathing,;dictator-loving, pretend social justice warrior is the perfect selling point. As a result, theyve willingly forked over money as a means to thumb their nose at people like President Trump.
One has to wonder if Nike actually supports them or just wants their money. Do they stand behind the anti-cop message, or support the pro-law enforcement Republican Party?
The news might surprise you and Kaepernick fans alike.
Also Check: What Do Democratic Republicans Believe In
Republicans Give More To Charity Than Democrats But Theres A Bigger Story Here
November 3, 2018; New York Times
The political differences between Republicans and Democrats dont play out solely at the ballot box; they also predict how likely people are to donate to charity. This finding from a newly published research project reflects a key difference, one tied to political affiliation, about how our nation should take on critical social issues like homelessness, poverty, and health care. The data also suggest that in times of political strife, both parties supporters pull back, making problem-solving harder.
Using voting and IRS data for the residents of 3,000 counties across the nation, the four-professor research team found, according to the New York Times, that counties which are overwhelmingly Republican report higher charitable contributions than Democratic-dominated counties, although giving in blue counties is often bolstered by a combination of charitable donations and higher taxes. But as red or blue counties become more politically competitive, charitable giving tends to fall. The full study was recently published in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.
Importantly, the study did not find that in Republican counties, private funds replaced public funds so that social services were equally supported.
How Local Elections Are Becoming Key Political Battlegrounds
The Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee together pulled in $77.65 million in donations of less than $200 in the quarter that ended June 30, compared to Democrats $77.7 million for their corresponding groups.
Each sum accounted for an identical share, 57 percent, of the committees take from individual donors, according to an NBC News analysis of campaign finance reports.
Don’t Miss: Why Are Republicans Trying To Repeal Obamacare
Jeff And Mackenzie Bezos Donated $10186170 In Total To Candidates Of Both Parties
Net worth: $12.7 billion
Ken Griffin;is the founder and CEO of Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel, according to The Guardian. Citadel manages $32 billion in assets, according to Forbes.
Griffin also owns the most expensive apartment ever sold in New York City, Business Insider previously reported.
Charitable Giving Does Not Match Government Aid
Those in favor of lower taxes have argued that individuals are more capable than the government of allocating money to important causes, including people in need of assistance. But the study found that was not true. Donations do not match government assistance, and without tax money, social services are not funded as robustly.
The evidence shows that private philanthropy cant compensate for the loss of government provision, Dr. Nesbit said. Its not equal. What government can put into these things is so much more than what we see through private philanthropy.
On the other hand, private philanthropy can do many things better than government aid, as in being responsive to a need and willing to fail without political fallout.
The studys authors make the case for a combination approach.
Theyre complementary means of redistribution of wealth rather than substitutions for each other, Dr. Christensen said. We cant put all of our eggs in one basket.
You May Like: How Many Senate Republicans Are There
Jeffrey And Janine Yass Donated $73 Million To Conservatives
Total donations: $7,611,083
Party: Republican
Net worth: Unknown
Jeffrey Yass is a cofounder of trading firm Susquehanna International Group, according to the company’s website.
The couple also donated $250 to liberals in addition to their support of conservatives, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.;
Does Partisanship Influence Charitable Giving
America is one of the most generous countries in the world. According to the 2017 CAF World Giving Index, the US ranks fifth globally in charitable participation and giving, and in 2017, donations reached a new height of $390.05 billion.
As a whole, its clear that Americans are incredibly philanthropic.
But what if we looked at things through a political lens? Americans are divided by partisan lines on many issues, and as we head into 2018 the divide continues to grow. Has this partisanship carried over to philanthropy?
Democrats and Republicans believe that it has. Recent survey results show that 95% of Democrats believe Liberals are a more charitable group, while 81% of Republicans believe Conservatives are more charitable. Are they right?
Taking a closer look
In a survey conducted using SurveyMonkey Audience, we asked 2,073 adults and found out that in reality, neither are quite right.
Even with different views on many issues, Democrats and Republicans are equally generous in their giving habits.
In fact, the majority of Republicans and Democrats have already donated money to, or volunteered with, a nonprofit organization in 2017 and many still plan to contribute before the year ends.
The largest proportion of both groups have donated money, and more than half of each group has volunteered their time. Its inspiring to see that Americans, regardless of political stance, are incredibly driven to support nonprofits.
A different divide
Also Check: Who Do Republicans Say Is The Whistleblower
