Awho’s who of CT’s top political donors
Hedge-funders, WWE impresarios, philanthropists among top 100 contributors to Dems, GOP nationwide
WASHINGTON — They are among the political contributors who are the most coveted and courted in Washington.
Several Connecticut residents make the list of the top 100 political donors in the nation, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. By trade, they’re philanthropists, hedge fund managers, business executives and political fundraisers, in their own right.
Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population gives more
than $200 to political candidates or committees, the Center for Responsive Politics found. One tenth of one percent of the population gives more than $2,700. But this small and rarified group of contributors gives millions — sometimes every year.
“They have so much money that they can do things with it — money we would never even imagine having, to them, it’s chump change,” said Paul Herrnson, professor of political science for the University of Connecticut and a fellow at the Center for Responsive Politics. “It’s very easy for them to spend it.”
These individuals have the power to flood political action committees, super PACs and dark money groups with cash to support their candidate or their party. They’re also useful by harnessing their wealthy friends into becoming contributors. They’ll get a personal phone call from candidates and any access to him or her they need, Herrnson said.
The top 100 contributors of 2020 list is pretty evenly spread between Republican and Democratic supporters — 56 support primarily Democrats, with the rest favoring Republicans.
It includes some familiar names: Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg, both of whom ran for president in 2020; Rupert Murdoch, media giant and leader of Fox Corp.; Charles R. Schwab, the man behind the financial services company of the same name; George Soros, a billionaire investor loathed by the far-right; Stephen A. Wynn, of Wynn Resorts; Steven Spielberg, the famed film director; Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and others.
The top political contributors of 2020 — so far — you’ve probably never heard of. They’re Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, conservative founders of the packing supply company Uline, who have given over $58 million to Republicans this cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics found.
Here’s a look at the contributors from Connecticut.
Stephen Frank Mandel Jr. and Susan Z. Mandel
No. 20 on the list of top political contributors, the Mandels have given $9.3 million to Democrats and $100 to Republicans this cycle, as of Friday, the Center for Responsive Politics finds.
Stephen Mandel founded the hedge fund Lone Pine Capital. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $2.8 billion. Greenwich residents, the Mandels have a charitable foundation called the Zoom Foundation.
In 2020, the Mandels have heavily supported the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; the Lincoln Project, an anti-President Donald Trump group created by former Republicans; Planned Parenthood’s PAC; a liberal PAC called AB; (Democratic presidential candidate Joe) Biden’s Action Fund and many, many other committees and Democratic congressional candidates, Federal Election Commission filings show.
In 2018, they gave $2.4 million to Democrats and, in 2016, they gave $5.5 million to Democrats and about $200,000 to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Since 2008, they’ve contributed just over $12,000 to Democratic candidates and committees in Connecticut, State Election Enforcement Commission records show. They declined to comment on their giving.
Vince and Linda McMahon
He’s the head of World Wrestling Entertainment, she leads a pro-Trump super PAC, and together they’re number 34 on the list of top political contributors this cycle. As of Friday, the Stamford residents have given $5.6 million to Republicans.
Linda McMahon was Trump’s head of the Small
Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. She now leads the America First Action Super PAC, to which she’s contributed over $4 million this cycle, FEC filings show. In 2012, she ran as a Republican against Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate in Connecticut and lost.
Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE, is also the founder of the XFL football league. He’s worth an estimated $1.6 billion, Forbes estimates.
In 2016, they gave $11.2 million to Republicans, the Center for Responsive Politics found. The McMahons did not respond to a request for comment.
Mary P. Moran
A former investment banker, Moran is number 79 on the list of top donors in 2020. She’s contributed $2.3 million to Democrats as of Friday, the Center for Responsive Politics found.
Moran, of Greenwich, is a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. She’s a board member at Family Centers of Greenwich. Her husband is Garrett Moran, the former president of Year Up, a nonprofit supporting disadvantaged young adults, who previously worked at Blackstone Group.
Moran did not crack the list of top 100 contributors in 2018 or 2016. Garrett Moran contributed $8,000 to state Democrats — mostly Gov. Ned Lamont — since 2018, SEEC records show. Mary Moran did not respond to a request for comment.
Thomas E. and Paula G. McInerney
Cruising in at number 91 is Thomas E. and Paula G. McInerney, the husbandand-wife duo who lead the Westport-based private equity firm Bluff Point Associates. The McInerneys gave $2.2 million to Republicans as of Friday, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In 2018, they gave $2.6 million to Republicans and, in 2016, they gave $2.8 million to Republicans and $2,500 to Democrats. They’ve also contributed nearly $170,000 to state Republican candidates and committees since 2011, SEEC records show. The McInerneys did not respond to a request for comment.