Wealthy businessman Timothy Mellon and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote huge, eight-figure checks in July to support major Republican and Democratic super PACs, respectively, gearing up for the 2024 election.
Mellon, who donated $50 million in May to Make America Great Again Inc., the super PAC that supports former President Donald Trump’s presidential bid, doubled down last month with another $50 million donation to the group. Mellon, who had previously given millions to a super PAC supporting independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has now donated more than $150 million to political organizations this cycle.
It’s among the biggest disclosed political contributions from a single person in a single election cycle.
Mellon’s donation made up the vast majority of the $54 million that MAGA Inc. raised in July, new reports filed Tuesday night with the Federal Election Commission show. The group spent $44 million last month, the majority of it on television ads as Republicans continue to ramp up spending in the presidential race. The super PAC closed July with $124 million left in the bank.
Its Democratic rival, FF PAC, has supported President Joe Biden’s campaign this cycle and is now supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s new standard-bearer. It raised almost $30 million last month, spent $27 million (also primarily on ads) and closed the month with virtually the same amount of money banked away as MAGA Inc., $124 million.
After he boosted FF PAC with a $20 million donation in May, Bloomberg directed his fortune to House races last month.
Bloomberg donated $10 million to House Majority PAC last month, the first time this election cycle that he has given to the group, which is the main Democratic super PAC involved in House races.
“House Majority PAC is deeply grateful for the longstanding and continued support from Mayor Mike Bloomberg in our efforts to take back the House,” House Majority PAC President Mike Smith said in a statement to NBC News. “With American freedoms at stake, Mayor Bloomberg’s dedication to Democratic ideals will fuel our work to promote an agenda for working families across America and elect Speaker Hakeem Jeffries next year.”
Bloomberg’s donation is dated just a few days after Biden’s disastrous debate, when donors looked to direct their contributions to down-ballot races amid concerns about Biden’s viability. But large donations often take time to come together, and it’s unclear whether the debate had anything to do with the donation.
