Simone Lawson
Amazon's political spending and campaign contributions have been a topic of interest for many, with some accusing the company of trying to buy elections. Ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections, reports revealed that Amazon and the Bezos family spent nearly $17 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle, with two-thirds of their combined spending going to Republicans. Amazon's political donations have also been a subject of discussion, with the company and its affiliates contributing $3.4 million in the 2022 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets. Amazon's political spending has sparked concerns about the influence of corporate money in politics and the need for greater transparency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Contributions in the 2022 cycle | $4,841,719 |
| Lobbying in 2021 | $21,380,000 |
| Outside Spending in the 2022 cycle | $0 |
| Total spending in the 2023-2024 election cycle | $17 million |
| Percentage of spending on Republicans | 66.66% |
| Percentage of spending on Democrats | 33.33% |
| Political donations in 2022 | $3.4 million |
| Rank among largest donors | 98th out of 27,872 |
| Resumed political contributions to lawmakers who voted to block the 2020 election results | Yes |
Explore related products
$11.97 $11
What You'll Learn
Amazon's political donations
Following the January 6 Capitol riots, Amazon joined several corporations in suspending donations to the 147 lawmakers who objected to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Amazon's corporate PAC paused contributions, intending to discuss concerns with previously supported members and evaluate their responses before deciding on future PAC contributions. Amazon's spokesperson called the objections to Biden's electoral certification an "unacceptable attempt to undermine a legitimate democratic process."
However, in October 2022, Amazon reversed its policy and resumed political contributions to lawmakers who voted to block the 2020 electoral vote count. Amazon's contributions were made to nine lawmakers, all of whom voted against certifying the electoral votes in one or more states.
Amazon's political spending has also been a focus for investors, who want to understand where their money is going. According to United for Respect, Amazon and the Bezos family spent nearly $17 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle. Amazon's PACs spent over two-thirds of their total spending on Republicans, with one-quarter of the money going to election deniers.
Additionally, Amazon announced in 2019 that users would soon be able to make campaign contributions to 2020 presidential candidates through their Alexa devices. This feature was available to candidates the FEC defined as "principal campaign committees." All donations were processed through Amazon Pay, and users received email receipts for their contributions.
Hiring Canvassers: Effective Political Campaign Strategy?
You may want to see also
Amazon's political spending
In the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol riot, Amazon announced that its corporate PAC would pause contributions and evaluate their concerns with those members they had previously supported. Amazon's PAC donated to several Republican lawmakers who voted against the certification of the 2020 election results, which was seen as an "unacceptable attempt to undermine a legitimate democratic process." However, in October 2022, Amazon reversed its policy and resumed political contributions to these lawmakers.
Looking ahead to the 2024 election cycle, United for Respect reported that Amazon and the Bezos family have spent nearly $17 million. Two-thirds of their combined spending went to Republicans, with one out of every four dollars contributed by Amazon's PAC going to election deniers.
Additionally, Amazon has enabled its customers to make campaign contributions through Alexa devices to 2020 presidential candidates deemed eligible by Amazon. This feature allows users to donate by voice command, with all transactions processed through Amazon Pay.
TV Ads: Political Campaign Game-Changer?
You may want to see also
Amazon's stance on transparency
Following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Amazon joined several other corporations in pausing political donations to assess their political giving policies. Amazon's spokesperson stated that they intended to discuss their concerns with previously supported members and evaluate their responses before deciding on future contributions. This move was in response to the efforts to block the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory and was seen as a way to ensure support for the democratic process.
However, Amazon has faced scrutiny for its political spending and donations. According to reports, Amazon and the Bezos family spent nearly $17 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle, with two-thirds of their combined spending going to Republicans. Amazon's PACs contributed to election deniers, and the company's donations were not always consistent with its stated positions. This has led to concerns about transparency and the potential impact on the company's reputation and bottom line.
Amazon's political contributions have been tracked by organisations like OpenSecrets, which reported that Amazon and its affiliates delivered $3.4 million in political donations for the 2022 election cycle. However, Amazon's own report showed contributions of $4,841,719 for the same cycle, with no outside spending. This discrepancy raises questions about the transparency and accuracy of the company's disclosures.
Additionally, Amazon's decision to resume political contributions to lawmakers who voted to block the 2020 electoral vote count has been controversial. While Amazon initially paused donations after the January 6 attack, it later reversed its policy, drawing criticism from those who believe the company should not support members who attempted to undermine the democratic process.
In conclusion, while Amazon has made efforts towards transparency by disclosing some information about its political contributions, there are still concerns about inconsistencies, a lack of transparency, and the alignment of the company's donations with its stated values. Amazon's stance on transparency remains a subject of scrutiny, and the company continues to navigate the complex landscape of political contributions and their impact on public perception.
Texting Random Numbers: Is It a Crime or Just Annoying?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Amazon's influence on local elections
Amazon has been accused of trying to buy local elections in Seattle and other cities. In the 2022 election cycle, Amazon and its affiliates have contributed $3.4 million in political donations, with 68% of the total amount going to Democrats. Amazon's political spending has raised concerns about the influence of corporate money in elections and the lack of transparency in campaign spending.
In Seattle, Amazon spent over $1 million to support candidates backed by the Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE), a political action committee aligned with the company and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Amazon's spending in Seattle was part of a broader trend of corporate influence in local elections, with companies contributing unlimited amounts to campaign spending following the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruling in 2010.
Amazon has also won over major individual candidates, with its cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing services to state and local election websites, storing voter registration rolls and ballot data, and facilitating overseas voting. AWS has been adopted by more than 40 states and both major political parties, positioning Amazon as a key player in U.S. elections.
While Amazon's involvement in elections has sparked criticism and concerns about the privatization of voting infrastructure, the company pitches itself as a low-cost provider of secure election technology. Amazon's expansion into the election business comes amid growing calls for secure and reliable election systems, particularly after the 2016 presidential election, which was marred by cyber-attacks on voting infrastructure.
To address the issue of corporate influence in elections, Seattle introduced the Clean Campaigns Act, which aims to regulate big money political contributions. The legislation includes provisions to prohibit spending by corporations with foreign ownership, cap contributions to political action committees, and increase transparency in campaign finance reporting.
Political Campaign Fundraising: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Amazon's political action committees (PACs)
Following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Amazon initially paused its PAC contributions to lawmakers who objected to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. The company expressed concern about the "'unacceptable attempt to undermine a legitimate democratic process.'" However, Amazon later reversed its policy and resumed contributions to these lawmakers ahead of the 2022 election cycle.
During the 2022 election cycle, Amazon and its employees, owners, and affiliates delivered $3.4 million in political donations, according to OpenSecrets. This placed Amazon as the 98th largest donor out of 27,872 spots. Amazon's PACs spent over two-thirds of their total spending on Republicans, and one out of every four dollars contributed went to election deniers.
Amazon's PAC contributions also have partisan preferences. While the PACs are technically nonpartisan, they funnel money to other PACs that directly support conservative candidates and issues. For example, PACs linked to the Bezos family, such as the Elected Principled Veterans Fund (EPV) and the Principled Veterans Fund (PV), support former veterans running for federal public office. The EPV primarily backs Republican candidates, while the PV supports Democratic candidates.
Amazon's political spending has attracted scrutiny from investors and the public, with a growing focus on transparency and accountability in political donations. The company's political spending has been tracked by organisations like OpenSecrets and American Democracy Scorecard, which aim to provide data and analysis on money's influence in American politics.
Encouraging Citizen Canvassing: Understanding Motivations for Political Action
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Amazon has contributed to political campaigns in the past. In the 2022 election cycle, Amazon contributed at least $369,000 to members of Congress who did not support the formation of a committee to investigate the January 6 Capitol riots. Amazon and its affiliates have also delivered $3.4 million in political donations for the 2022 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets.
Amazon contributes to political campaigns through political action committees (PACs). PACs can be aligned with parties (Party PACs), politicians (Leadership PACs), or dedicated to specific issues or ballot initiatives (Issue PACs). Amazon has also allowed individuals to make campaign contributions to 2020 presidential candidates through Amazon Alexa devices.
Amazon's political contributions have supported both Democratic and Republican candidates. During the 2022 election cycle, Amazon contributed to members of Congress who objected to the results of the 2020 presidential election. In the 2023-24 election cycle, Amazon's PACs spent over two-thirds of their total spending on Republicans, with one out of every four dollars contributed going to election deniers.
The amount that Amazon spends on political campaigns varies. In the 2022 election cycle, Amazon contributed at least $369,000 to members of Congress. In 2021, Amazon spent $21,380,000 on lobbying, and in the 2023-24 election cycle, Amazon and the Bezos family spent nearly $17 million.
