Republican Governors Association Raises $22 Million, Lists Donors (updated)
Under the chairmanship of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the Republican Governors Association reported more than $22 million in donations during the first quarter of the year.
The Republican Governors Association , a Section 527 political organization, reported to the I.R.S. receipts of $22,432,846 and disbursements of $15,643,221 during the first quarter of 2014.
Major individuals donors included Mike Shannon (managing director, KSL Capital Partners, WI) and wife Sue, $1 million; Lawrence Degeorge (CEO, LPL Investment Corporation, FL) $750,000; Kenneth Griffin (CEO, Citadel Group, IL) and wife Ann, $525,000 as well as $5,337 in-kind catering; Karen Wright (CEO, Ariel Corporation, OH) $500,000; Daniel Loeb (founder, Third Point LLC, NY); Bruce Kovner (financial executive, Caxton Alternative Management LP, NY) $500,000; $500,000; U.S. Chamber of Commerce & related entities (DC) $500,000; Thomas Rastin (executive vice president, Ariel Corporation, OH) $500,000; Paul Singer (founder, Elliott Management, NY) $500,000; Muneer Satter (investment manager, Satter Investment Management Inc., IL) $250,000; Linda McMahon (executive, CT) $250,000; Diane Wilsey (CEO, A. Wilsey Properties, CA) $250,000; and Donald Trump (chairman and president, The Trump Organization, NY) $250,000; Trevor Rees-Jones (president, Chief Oil & Gas, TX) $250,000; among others.
Top corporate donors included Pfizer Inc. $500,000; Nextera Energy Inc.(Fl) $356,690 in-kind travel; WellPoint Inc. (OH) $275,000; BlueCross BlueShield Assn. (IL) $250,000; Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc. (NJ) $250,000; Comprehensive Health Management Inc. (FL) $250,000; USAA (TX) $250,000; Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (AR) $250,000; among others.
Other donors included the National Rifle Association (VA) $50,000; Michael Celler (legislative and Intergovernmental affairs, State of New Jersey, Office of the Governor) $500; Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. (NJ) $100,000; Berger Group Holdings (NJ) $25,000; Normandy FW LLC (NJ) $25,000; Robert Harris (president, Harris FRC Corp. (NJ) $25,000; among others.
The committee spent more than $2 million on media buys by Targeted Enterprises (CA); more than $666,000 on media buys from Smart Media Group (VA); more than $250,000 on Internet media buys from OnMessage Inc.; more than $680,000 on media buys from PinPoint Media (VA); among other expenses.
The committee spent $124,155 with Meridian Air Charter (NJ) for travel; $12,500 with KCH & Associates (NJ) for fundraising; and $60,875 with Tandl Consulting Inc (NJ) for fundraising.
The committee gave $2.5 million to Let’s Get To Work (Tallahassee, Florida); $1 million to RGA Right Direction PAC; $750,000 to Citizens for Rauner (Chicago, IL); $250,000 to the Republican party of Texas; $250,000 to Red State Women (TX); $50,000 to the Maine Republican Party; among others.
PM Update: The law firm of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher contributed $10,000 on March 18th. The firm had been hired by Gov. Christie to investigate the George Washington bridge scandal and found the Governor “had no knowledge beforehand.”
