A campaign finance watchdog has found that more than a dozen major US companies that publicly supported strengthening the Voting Rights Act in 2021 have continued to contribute to political groups that critics say are working to weaken the legislation.
Researchers at the Center for Political Accountability (CPA), a nonpartisan organisation that tracks corporate political spending, shared data with the Guardian showing contributions from firms including Airbnb, DoorDash, Target and Zillow to organisations such as the Republican Attorneys General Association and other 527 groups active in state races.
Donations to 527 groups
The CPA analysis says those 527 organisations typically deploy resources in key state contests and have been linked to efforts that could undermine the protections sought under revisions to the Voting Rights Act. The companies named by the watchdog had signed a 2021 joint letter urging Congress to strengthen the landmark voting rights law, a public stance that campaign finance analysts say now appears at odds with some of their political giving.
The data was provided exclusively to the Guardian and shows continued corporate contributions to state-level political networks even after firms publicly advocated for tougher federal protection of voting rights. The findings highlight questions about the consistency between corporate policy statements on democracy and their behind-the-scenes political expenditures.
The CPA characterises itself as nonpartisan and focuses on transparency in corporate political activity; its review did not attempt to quantify the intent behind individual donations. The Guardian report based on the CPA data did not include responses from the companies or the recipient organisations about the specific payments referenced.