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Politics May 24, 2024
Donald Trump attends a political event in Arizona in July 2021. | Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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Former President Donald Trump is the Republican front-runner in the 2024 election, and according to the Federal Election Commission his campaign has raised $124.2 million. Citing FEC figures released April 22, the nonprofit Open Secrets reported these top Trump contributors:
Bigelow Aerospace – $9,188,600
Founded by entrepreneur, hotelier and real estate investor Robert T. Bigelow, the Las Vegas-based company designs and builds “habitable space structures for private enterprise and government use,” according to its website.
America First – $6,009,540
This Republican super PAC gave 97% of its 2024 contributions to Trump’s PAC Make America Great Again.
McMahon Ventures – $5,250,000
McMahon Ventures is a consulting firm owned by husband-and-wife Linda and Vince McMahon, who are the founders of World Wrestling Entertainment. Linda McMahon served in Trump’s cabinet as head of the Small Business Administration.
Hendricks Holding Co. – $5,000,225
This corporate conglomerate spans the construction, the film, insurance, real estate, dining and transportation and logistics industries. Conservative billionaire Diane Hendricks and her late husband Ken Hendricks founded the firm in 2001. Diane Hendricks was an economic advisor to Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation – $5,000,000
This philanthropic foundation invests in a wide range of health care, social justice, arts and community-oriented initiatives, according to the organization’s website. After nearly 40 years since its founding, the Perlmutters and the foundation have donated more than $78 million.
Crownquest Operating – $5,000,000
Based in Midland, Texas, Crownquest Operating was founded in 1996 and drills oil and gas wells. Its CEO is Timothy Dunn and Robert W. “Bobby” Floyd is the president.
RAI Services Co. – $3,500,000
Part of the Reynolds American Inc. tobacco conglomerate behind brands such as Camel, Newport and Natural American Spirit, RAI Services Co. is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. David Waterfield is the president and CEO.
GH Palmer Associates – $2,013,200
G. H. Palmer Associates currently owns a more than $6 billion portfolio of 15,039 Southern-California apartment units, valued in excess of $6 billion, according to the company. The owner is Geoffrey Harrison Palmer, a California builder and attorney.
Southern Waste Systems – $1,303,300
Southern Waste Systems is based in South Florida and is a subsidiary of Waste Management Inc. The company collects residential, commercial and industrial solid waste and does recycling.
Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys – $1,100,000
This personal injury law firm is based in Orlando, Florida, and claims to have recovered billions of dollars for clients.
Open secrets provided this explanation of the data: “The money came from the organizations’ PACs; their individual members, employees or owners; and those individuals’ immediate families. At the federal level, the organizations themselves did not donate, as they are prohibited by law from doing so. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.”
The remaining top 20 Trump donors are listed on the Open Secrets website.
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