Republican candidates for federal office have long attracted more political donations from agriculture businesses than Democrats. But the gap has significantly widened over the past decade.
During the 2020 election cycle, which included a presidential race, the agribusiness industry gave nearly $98 million to Republican candidates, more than double the $46 million given to Democrats.
The campaign donation figures were compiled by Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks political donations using federal records. Agribusiness donors include meat and crop producers, dairy companies, tobacco companies and food manufacturers.
Agribusiness spending on federal candidates set a new record in 2020, with many political observers saying trade wars between the U.S. and China sparked the industry’s increase in giving.
So far, during the 2024 election cycle, agribusiness donors have given $41.3 million to Republicans and $18.5 million to Democrats. Former President Donald Trump has been the recipient of $2.9 million of those funds, the largest amount of any candidate for president or Congress.
President Joe Biden, who recently announced he would not run for re-election, had received $943,636, the second-highest amount. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now seeking the Democratic nomination, is expected to gain access to Biden’s campaign funds.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, has received $835,810 from agribusiness donors, the third-highest amount this cycle.
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