Tobacco PAC Contributions to Members of U.S. Congress
The tobacco industry contributes millions of dollars each election cycle to candidates for Congress in an effort to influence federal policies. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids issues regular updates detailing these contributions. You can see individual PAC contributions by state here. [1]
2018 Annual Spending on Lobbying
Client/Parent
|
Total (in USD)[2]
|
Altria Group
|
10,260,000
|
Philip Morris International
|
6,230,000
|
British American Tobacco
|
2,624,000
|
JUUL Labs
|
1,640,000
|
Hay Island Holding
|
322,000
|
Vector Group
|
320,000
|
Vapor Technology Assn
|
240,000
|
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Assn
|
240,000
|
Scandinavian Tobacco Group
|
200,000
|
Turning Point Brands
|
200,000
|
Cigar Assn of America
|
180,000
|
Pyxus International
|
165,000
|
US Tobacco Cooperative
|
160,000
|
Swedish Match AB
|
130,000
|
ITG Brands
|
100,000
|
VGR Holding
|
90,000
|
Japan Tobacco International
|
85,000
|
Smoke Free Alternatives Trade Association
|
80,000
|
Ballantyne Brands
|
60,000
|
NJOY Electronic Cigarettes
|
55,000
|
Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups in 2018
Contributor
|
Total Contributions[3]
|
Total to Candidates and Parties [4]
|
To Candidates and Parties - Democrats %[5]
|
To Candidates and Parties - Republicans %[6]
|
Total to Outside Spending Groups [7]
|
Altria Group
|
2,369,727
|
1,560,777
|
25.8
|
74.2
|
808,930
|
British American Tobacco
|
2,023,367
|
519,519
|
10.6
|
89.4
|
1,513,848
|
Vector Group
|
299,270
|
299,270
|
14.2% 85.8
|
0
|
Swisher International
|
288,663
|
228,653
|
1.1
|
98.9
|
60,000
|
JUUL Labs
|
206,431
|
156,431
|
14.5
|
85.5
|
50,000
|
Top 20 Recipients in 2018
Candidate
|
Office
|
Amount (USD)[8]
|
Kaine, Tim (D-VA)
|
Senate
|
63,963
|
Tillis, Thom (R-NC)
|
Senate
|
57,850
|
Holding, George (R-NC)
|
House
|
52,755
|
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA)
|
House
|
48,350
|
Warner, Mark (D-VA)
|
Senate
|
37,750
|
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
|
Senate
|
34,600
|
Cole, Tom (R-OK)
|
House
|
32,565
|
Aderholt, Robert B (R-AL)
|
House
|
31,000
|
Walker, Mark (R-NC)
|
House
|
30,100
|
Scalise, Steve (R-LA)
|
House
|
29,800
|
Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN)
|
House
|
28,821
|
Yoder, Kevin (R-KS)
|
House
|
28,773
|
Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
|
Senate
|
28,355
|
Rouzer, David (R-NC)
|
House
|
28,100
|
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC)
|
House
|
27,500
|
Sessions, Pete (R-TX)
|
House
|
26,850
|
Sinema, Kyrsten (D-AZ)
|
House
|
26,800
|
Barr, Andy (R-KY)
|
House
|
24,550
|
Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
|
Senate
|
24,500
|
Brat, Dave (R-VA)
|
House
|
23,601
|
Top 20 Recipients in 2016
Candidate
|
House
|
Amount (USD)[9]
|
Burr, Richard (R-NC)
|
Senate
|
197,950
|
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA)
|
House
|
69,000
|
Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
|
Senate
|
66,910
|
Ryan, Paul (R-WI)
|
House
|
58,799
|
Holding, George (R-NC)
|
House
|
48,400
|
Clinton, Hillary (D)
|
|
45,768
|
Bush, Jeb (R)
|
|
44,500
|
Boustany, Charles Jr (R-LA)
|
House
|
41,050
|
Ayotte, Kelly (R-NH)
|
Senate
|
38,186
|
Cole, Tom (R-OK)
|
House
|
34,648
|
Kaine, Tim (D-VA)
|
Senate
|
31,051
|
Scalise, Steve (R-LA)
|
House
|
30,799
|
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
|
Senate
|
29,700
|
Portman, Rob (R-OH)
|
Senate
|
28,050
|
Yoder, Kevin (R-KS)
|
House
|
27,970
|
Toomey, Pat (R-PA)
|
Senate
|
27,007
|
Warner, Mark (D-VA)
|
Senate
|
26,900
|
Blunt, Roy (R-MO)
|
Senate
|
26,300
|
Hudson, Richard (R-NC)
|
House
|
26,000
|
Walker, Mark (R-NC)
|
House
|
22,125
|
References
- ↑ Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, TOBACCO PAC CONTRIBUTIONS TO FEDERAL CANDIDATES, Accessed 22 October 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Industry Profile: Summary, 2018, 19 March 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Tobacco: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups, 10 June 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Tobacco: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups, 10 June 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Tobacco: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups, 10 June 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Tobacco: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups, 10 June 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Opean Secrets website, Tobacco: Top Contributors to Federal Candidates, Parties, and Outside Groups, 10 June 2019, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Open Secrets website, Top 20 Recipients, Accessed 20 July 2019
- ↑ Open Secrets website, Tobacco, 27 November 2017, Accessed 20 July 2019