The 2018 midterms are a long-gone memory of most Americans, a one night occurrence which led to some Democratic flips, Republican holds, and the same old process of politics America goes through with every midterm election.
But it’s important to understand how much of a role corporate influence played in the midterms – how it shaped the election, led to the night itself, and how it still has a lasting aftermath.
A simple view of some of the top donors of the 2018 Midterms shows a web of intriguing, confusing, and sometimes dark influencers who had a loud say in the 2018 Midterms.
Let’s take a look at some of the top donors.
Steven A. Schwarzmann – CEO of The Blackstone Group
Steven A. Schwarzmann, with a net worth of $13,500,000,000.00, gave $11,750,000.00 to Super PACs in the 2018 midterms. A close friend of President Donald J. Trump and former President George Bush, Schwarzmann made his wealth with The Blackstone Group, a private equity group. Little to the knowledge of many however, The Blackstone Group is responsible for doing such things as purchasing single-family homes during the financial crisis of 2007/08 and selling them to be rented, by lobbying against efforts such as socialized healthcare and the expansion of Social Security.
Joshua Bekenstein – Co-Chairman of Bain Capital
Joshua Bekenstein is currently the Co-Chairman of Bain Capital, an American private investment firm. Contributing $6,650,000.00 in the 2018 midterms, Bekenstein gave to several groups such as League of Conservation Voters and the Priorities USA Action PAC. Bain Capital made its rise through the American business ranks through doing such things as investing in offshore companies in Panama (a frequent tax evasion scheme), outsourcing jobs in their investment companies, and playing a large role in the 2007/08 global financial crisis.
The “Koch Brothers” – Koch Industries
Charles Koch is the 8th richest person in the world, with a massive net worth of $51,000,000,000.00. His brother, David, holds a net worth of $51,200,000,000.00. Politically known as the “Koch Brothers”, these billionaires are known to throw around dark, corporate money and hold a massive say in, mainly, right-wing American politics. In the year of 2018, they donated $12,060,720.00 to campaigns – and spent $9,990,000.00 on lobbying. Some of their top recipients in 2018 include New York Congressman Lee Zeldin ($20,000.00), New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney ($12,700.00), and now-Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn ($22,800.00).
Cash Out Politics 