Simone Lawson
Publix Super Markets, one of the largest grocery chains in the country, has been a major player in political donations, especially in Florida, where it operates nearly 900 stores. The company's political action committee (PAC) has donated millions to political groups and candidates, with a history of favoring Republicans and conservative groups. While Publix has donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates and committees, its donations have predominantly gone to Republicans, with some controversy arising from donations to those who opposed voting rights legislation and supported claims of election fraud.
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What You'll Learn
Publix Super Markets Associates Political Action Committee
Publix PAC donated to Republican congressional candidates, with contributions totalling about $77,000, which is significantly more than the $27,000 given to Democratic candidates. The PAC also contributed $60,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and the same combined amount to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
In state-level donations, Publix has spent $5.2 million in the 2024 election cycle, with much of that money going to conservative political committees in Florida. The company gave $500,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, $400,000 to the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, and $275,000 to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign. In contrast, they contributed $150,000 to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign and $25,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.
Publix PAC has also donated to other committees, such as the Retail Leaders PAC ($10,000), the Food Marketplace Inc. PAC ($10,000), and the National Retail Federation ($5,000).
In the past, Publix's contributions were heavily tilted towards Republicans, with 84.1% of its contributions going to Republicans in the 2016 election. However, in the current election cycle, the PAC's donations are more balanced, with nearly 58% going to Republicans.
Publix faced controversy in 2021 when it was revealed that Julie Jenkins Fancelli, an heiress of the grocery chain, donated $300,000 to the rally that turned into a riot at the Capitol on January 6. Fancelli has no official role at Publix, and the company has distanced itself from her, condemning the violence that occurred on that date.
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Donations to Republicans
Publix Super Markets have been described as a "major political player" that leans towards Republicans in Florida. The company has given more to Republicans than Democrats, with Publix's Political Action Committee (PAC) favoring Republicans and conservative groups.
At the state level, Publix has donated $500,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, $400,000 to the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, and $275,000 to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign. The company has also contributed $5.2 million to Florida political groups in the 2024 election cycle, favoring Republicans and conservatives.
At the federal level, Publix has donated $60,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, compared to $30,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The company has also contributed to Republican congressional candidates, with donations totaling about $77,000, compared to $27,000 given to Democratic candidates.
In the 2020 election cycle, Publix donated $127,000 to 43 members of the Republican caucus that voted to overturn the election. The company has also donated to Republican members of Congress who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election and voted against creating a Congressional investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack.
Publix has also been criticized for donating $100,000 to Governor Ron DeSantis' political action committee, after which DeSantis announced that Florida would partner with Publix for the vaccine rollout. Both DeSantis and Publix have denied any connection between the political donations and the partnership.
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Donations to Democrats
While Publix has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates and committees, the company's donations have favored Republicans and conservative groups. At the state level, Publix's largest donations have gone to political and corporate committees. The company has given substantial amounts to the Republican Party of Florida and various Republican campaign committees, such as the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign.
In comparison, Publix's contributions to Democratic groups have been fewer and smaller in value. The company has donated to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign and the Florida Democratic Party, with amounts of $150,000 and $25,000, respectively. Additionally, Publix has made donations to Democratic congressional candidates, totaling about $27,000, which is significantly less than the $77,000 given to Republican candidates.
Publix has also contributed to Democratic candidates from other states, including Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama. In terms of individual candidates, Publix has donated $2,000 each to Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, and Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
It is worth noting that the donations made by Publix are through its Political Action Committees (PACs) and come from key individuals within the organization, such as major shareholders and executives, rather than the company itself.
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Donations to state officials
Publix Super Markets, one of the largest grocery chains in the country, has been a major political player, making significant donations to state officials and candidates. The company operates over 1,200 stores in seven states and has a history of contributing to political campaigns, primarily favoring Republican and conservative groups.
In the 2024 election cycle, Publix has donated heavily at the state level, spending $5.2 million in Florida alone. The company's Political Action Committee (PAC) has contributed to various political committees and candidates, with a bias towards Republicans. For example, Publix donated $450,000 to "Conservatives for a Better Florida," a committee affiliated with Rep. Daniel Perez, the incoming House Speaker. Additionally, they gave $200,000 to "Advancing Florida Agriculture," a committee aligned with state Sen. Ben Albritton, the incoming Senate President.
Publix's largest state-level donations have gone to political and corporate committees. They contributed $500,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, $400,000 to the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, and $275,000 to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign. In contrast, their donations to Democratic groups have been significantly lower, with $150,000 going to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign and $25,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.
The company has also donated to individual candidates, with a preference for Republicans. They contributed about $77,000 to Republican congressional candidates and $27,000 to Democratic candidates. Notable donations include $2,000 to Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and $3,000 to Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota.
Publix's political donations have not been without controversy. In 2018, the company faced criticism for its contributions to campaigns following the Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, which led to calls for gun control. As a result, Publix announced it would halt political contributions for the remainder of the 2018 election cycle. However, the company resumed its political activities in 2019. Additionally, in 2021, a progressive group targeted Publix's donations to Republican members of Congress, particularly in light of revelations that an heiress of the grocery chain funded the rally that turned into a riot at the Capitol on January 6.
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Donations to federal lawmakers
Publix Super Markets have been a major political player, with a history of making political donations that lean towards Republicans in Florida. The company's political action committee (PAC) has donated to federal lawmakers and candidates in both federal and state races.
In the 2024 election cycle, Publix donated to federal lawmakers who opposed voting rights legislation and the creation of a Congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The company also donated to lawmakers who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results. These donations sparked controversy, with progressive groups calling on Publix to stop contributing to Republican members of Congress.
Publix's PAC has made significant contributions to Republican congressional candidates, with a scan of FEC financial reports revealing a total of about $77,000 in donations, far exceeding the $27,000 given to Democratic candidates. The PAC has also donated to other committees, such as the Retail Leaders PAC ($10,000), the Food Marketplace Inc. PAC ($10,000), and the National Retail Federation ($5,000).
At the state level, Publix's largest donations have gone to political and corporate committees. The company has contributed substantial amounts to conservative groups and Republican Party committees in Florida, including the Republican Party of Florida ($500,000), the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee ($400,000), and the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign ($275,000). In contrast, Publix has donated less to Democratic groups, with contributions of $150,000 to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign and $25,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.
Publix's donation strategy has evolved over time, with the company suspending its political contributions in 2018 after facing backlash for its support of Adam Putnam, a critic of gun control measures. However, the company resumed its political activities in 2019, adopting a more balanced approach in the subsequent election cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Publix has donated to political campaigns in the past. In the 2024 election cycle, the company's Publix Super Markets Associates Political Action Committee (PAC) has donated $5.2 million to Florida political groups, favoring Republicans and conservative groups.
Notable recipients of Publix's political donations include the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, and Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee.
Yes, in 2018, Publix announced that it would halt making political contributions following criticism from gun-control activists in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. However, the company resumed its political donations in 2019.
