Food and Ag PACs Largely Supporting Republicans

Agri-Pulse’s Jake Zajkowski reported Wednesday that “political action committees sponsored by farm organizations, agribusiness firms and electric cooperatives have given nearly $27 million altogether to congressional campaigns in the 2024 campaign.”

“House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa., topped the list with about $158,000 in donations, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in line to be the lead Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the next session of Congress, led all Senate candidates with $101,000,” Zajkowski reported. “Some 66% of the $26.7 million in contributions from 262 ag and food-related PAC contributions has gone to Republicans, according to the latest data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and analyzed by Agri-Pulse. The total includes nearly $1.8 million in contributions from the PAC operated by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.”

“So far, the top recipients of the ag and rural PAC funding among House members include House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., with $158,106, followed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. and Republican Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and two GOP members of the House Ways and Means Committee, Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota,” Zajkowski reported. “…Top recipients among House Democrats, all of whom are members of the House Agriculture Committee, include Rep. Jim Costa of California, Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, and Georgia’s David Scott, the committee’s ranking member.”

Nebraska Senate Race

Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported that “in Nebraska, two-term Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, finds herself in a tougher-than-expected race against independent Dan Osborn. A Navy veteran, Osborn is an industrial mechanic and former union leader who helped lead a strike against Kellogg’s in Omaha in 2021 — a strike that eventually led to Kellogg’s firing Osborn.”

“Osborn has been running ads declaring Fischer has expanded her wealth greatly while serving in the Senate and she doesn’t hold town hall meetings across the state. He’s taken a more conservative stance on immigration and accused Fischer of not being effective in her 12 years in office,” Clayton reported. “Fischer’s campaign has maintained Osborn is really a Democrat even though he has been registered as an independent for two decades. Fischer also has attacked Osborn on abortion, declaring her record as pro-life while Nebraska has opposing ballot measures in November on abortion rights.”

Montana Senate Race

“Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, who’s struggling to win re-election against Republican Tim Sheehy, has received $50,500 (from ag and rural PACs), ranking third in Senate contributions, as he seeks support against well-funded Republican opponent Tim Sheehy in the November election,” Zajkowski reported.

Clayton reported that “Tester finds himself trying to hold on in a state that is increasingly Republican. Polls have shown Tester consistently trailing Tim Sheehy, a former Navy Seal who moved to Montana in 2014 and started an aerial firefighting business. He also owns a cattle ranch in the state. Sheehy also has the backing of former President Donald Trump who held a rally for him in August.”

Wisconsin Senate Race

Clayton reported that “in Wisconsin, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is seeking her third term against Republican Eric Hovde, a former CEO of a real estate-focused hedge fund. The race has gotten tight with Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball showing the race leans toward Baldwin while Cook considers it a tossup.”

“Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin has received $42,500 from ag PACs in her race against Republican Eric Hovde,” Zajkowski reported.

Top Contributing PACs

Agri-Pulse’s Zajkowski reported that “among agribusiness and food-related PACs and the NRECA, the leading contributor by far is American Crystal Sugar, a sugar beet cooperative in Moorhead, Minn., traditionally a top donor to congressional campaigns. So far this cycle, the co-op’s PAC has contributed $2.4 million.”

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is a distant third behind American Crystal Sugar and NRECA with $856,000 in contributions,” Zajkowski reported. “…The sugar industry plays a dominant role among the top 20 agricultural PACs, featuring five PACs from sugar beet farmers in the Upper Midwest, and southern sugar cane growers.”

“Most agriculture PACs demonstrate bipartisan giving, said Robbie Minnich, vice president of Washington operations for the Cotton Council, which sponsors the Committee for the Advancement of Cotton,” Zajkowski reported. “‘If you support agriculture, then we’re happy to support you,’ he said.”

“Very few agribusiness PACs contribute directly to presidential campaigns; however, their dollars, outside of federal campaign contributions, often flow to other leadership funds, ultimately finding their way to the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris,”  Zajkowski reported.