There are nine key individual donors who fueled the 2014 elections, according to a new report from the
Center for Responsive Politics and all will likely be back with their open wallets for future elections.
There are several well-known names among the list, reports The National Journal, which added to the report by adding additional numbers from final Federal Election Commission reports.
The list did not include big donors to political nonprofit organizations, such as the conservative Americans for Prosperity, which are not required to report who gives the money.
The list is as follows:
Former hedge-fund manager and environmentalist Tom Steyer spent millions after promising in February to raise and spend more than $100 million this year to back candidates who would push climate change legislation.
However, he fell short of the goal and ended up spending $71.9 million of
his own bankroll for his NextGen Climate Action Committee, financing more than 90 percent of the group's $77 million budget.
In addition, Steyer spent money directly on the Senate races in New Hampshire, Colorado, Iowa, and Michigan and donated to some governors' races. Further, his super PAC gave millions to the Senate Majority PAC, Democrats' main Senate super PAC, and the League of Conservation Voters, a major environmental group.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg also spread plenty of money around in the 2014 election cycle. Bloomberg funded his own Independence USA PAC with more than $17 million, backing Democrats and Republicans alike, although Democrats got the most money.
Among his donations, Bloomberg handed out $2.75 million to the EMILY's List's super PAC, more than $2 million to the Democrats' House Majority PAC, and another $1 million to Planned Parenthood's super PAC.
Yet another $250,000 went to Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' gun-control group, and a half million went to groups supporting Republicans Sens. Thad Cochran and Lindsey Graham in their primary bids.
Hedge-fund manager Paul Singer placed third for his conservative donations, including contributions of $2 million to $3 million among groups like the American Unity PAC, which backed pro-gay marriage Republicans; American Crossroads, the biggest Republican super PAC; and Ending Spending, a super PAC run by the Ricketts family.
Robert Mercer, the co-head of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, also played big for Republicans, including a half-million dollar donation to Tea Party groups such as Senate Conservatives Action and more than $1 million to the Club for Growth.
Freedom Partners Action Fund, affiliated with the Koch brothers, netted $2.5 million, another $1.8 million to Ending Spending, and $1 million to former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton's super PAC.
Media mogul Fred Eychaner also played big for Democrats, giving $8 million total to House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC. Further money went to a super PAC that spent against Republicans competing for Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin's seat.
Joe and Marlene Ricketts also spent big for their super PAC, Ending Spending. They donated more than $7.8 million to the group, along with giving smaller amounts to candidates nationwide, including a $1,000 gift to the Republican Party in Nebraska, where their son Pete Ricketts won this year's gubernatorial race.
Uline CEO Richard Uihlein and his wife, Elizabeth, donated heavily to several conservative outside groups, including the Club for Growth, the Madison Action Fund, Ending Spending, and Senate Conservatives Action. Even more of their money went to smaller accounts for Senate and House candidates and to the Republican National Committee.
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife also made the list, although their donations paled in comparison with the money they spent in the 2012 presidential campaign. They donated $5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund in October, along with supporting the Republican Jewish Coalition and several conservative House and Senate candidates. He also reportedly donated millions to GOP-nonprofits, but those reports are not available.
George Soros also figured big for Democrats, giving a half million dollars each to several liberal groups, including the research group American Bridge, House Majority PAC, Senate Majority PAC, the League of Conservation Voters, and Planned Parenthood's super PAC.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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