Jonah Patel
Amazon's political spending has been a topic of interest for many, especially in light of the company's large influence and impact on American politics. Amazon's PACs (political action committees) have been known to support specific politicians and campaigns, with a reported partisan preference. In the 2023-2024 election cycle, Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, spent nearly $17 million, with two-thirds of that going to Republicans. Amazon has also been known to donate to federal and state lawmakers with specific political leanings, such as those who opposed voting rights legislation or the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The company's political donations have sparked conversations about transparency and accountability, with investors demanding more information about where their money is going.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amazon's total political spending in the 2023-2024 election cycle | $17 million |
| Amazon's total political spending in the 2022 election cycle | $369,000 |
| Amazon's total contribution to politicians and campaigns | $731,000 |
| Amazon's contribution to election deniers | $180,500 |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to JD Vance's campaign | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to Michigan Republican Congressman Tim Walberg's campaign | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC spending on Republicans | Two-thirds of total spending |
| Amazon's PAC spending on independent spending to back Republicans | 4 times as much as Democrats |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to election deniers | One out of every four dollars |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to other PACs | 90% of all their contributions |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to Party PACs | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to Leadership PACs | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to Issue PACs | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to the Elected Principled Veterans Fund (EPV) | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to the Principled Veterans Fund (PV) | Not mentioned |
| Amazon's PAC contribution to the 2020 presidential campaigns | Not mentioned |
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What You'll Learn
Amazon's political spending in the 2024 election cycle
Amazon's political spending ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections has been closely scrutinized, with a focus on the company's contributions to election deniers and its partisan preferences. Amazon's PAC (Political Action Committee) has a history of supporting Republican candidates and has continued to do so in the 2023-2024 election cycle.
According to United for Respect, Amazon and the Bezos family have spent nearly $17 million during this election cycle. Of this total spending, two-thirds went to Republicans, with PACs linked to the Bezoses spending four times as much on independent expenditures to back Republican candidates. Amazon's PAC also contributed to the campaigns of JD Vance and Michigan Republican Congressman Tim Walberg.
Additionally, Amazon has been found to have contributed at least $180,500 to election deniers, based on data from States United Action. This figure is likely an undercount, as comprehensive data on election deniers is only available for seven states. From the available dataset, Amazon donated a total of $731,000 to politicians and campaigns.
Amazon's political spending has not been without controversy. In the past, the company has faced criticism for donating to federal lawmakers who opposed voting rights legislation and for contributing to lawmakers who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results. Following the Capitol riot, Amazon announced that it would pause donations from its PAC to lawmakers who voted against certifying the presidential election results.
It is worth noting that organizations like Amazon cannot contribute directly to candidates or party committees. The reported figures include contributions and spending by affiliates, such as PACs. Amazon's political spending in the 2024 election cycle highlights the significant role that corporations and their PACs play in influencing U.S. elections and shaping public policy.
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Amazon's support for election deniers
Amazon has been criticized for its political spending and support for election deniers. The company's political action committees (PACs) have contributed to election denial campaigns and candidates who oppose voting rights legislation.
In 2022, Amazon was reported to have contributed at least $369,000 to members of Congress who did not support the formation of a January 6 investigation into the 2020 presidential election. The company had previously said it would suspend donations to those who participated in "the unacceptable attempt to undermine a legitimate democratic process." However, 21 months later, Amazon resumed donations to some of these election deniers, giving a total of $17,500 to nine Representatives who fell under its previous ban.
During the 2023-2024 election cycle, Amazon and the Bezos family's PACs spent over two-thirds of their total spending on Republicans. One out of every four dollars that Amazon's PAC contributed went to election deniers, amounting to at least $180,500 during this election cycle. This number is likely an undercount, as comprehensive data on election deniers is only available for seven states. From the available data, Amazon donated $731,000 to politicians and campaigns.
Amazon's growing presence in the elections business has raised concerns among security experts and critics. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded into state and local elections, with over 40 states now using one or more of Amazon's election offerings. While Amazon claims its systems are reliable and secure, critics worry about the centralization of data and the potential risks of a single major breach.
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Amazon's donations to federal lawmakers
Amazon's political spending has been a topic of interest for investors and the public, especially after the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Amazon's PAC (Political Action Committee) has been known to support specific lawmakers and causes.
During 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 6th attack. Amazon's PAC also supported Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Republican Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee from the State of Washington. In 2024, the Rodgers-backed PAC, CMR PAC, contributed to the campaigns of JD Vance and Michigan Republican Congressman Tim Walberg. Amazon has also donated to federal lawmakers who opposed voting rights legislation during the 2022 election cycle and to state officials who voted for anti-voter legislation.
Amazon's PAC contributions have a clear partisan preference, with two-thirds of their spending going to Republicans. Amazon's PAC gave 90% of its contributions to other PACs, which ultimately supported conservative candidates and issues. Amazon's PAC also contributed to the campaigns of election deniers, with one out of every four dollars going to such candidates. Ahead of the 2024 US elections, Amazon and the Bezos family spent nearly $17 million, with Amazon's PAC spending over two-thirds of that amount on Republicans.
In 2019, Amazon announced a new feature called Alexa Political Contributions, allowing users to make voice-controlled donations to presidential campaigns. This feature raised concerns about the legality and screening process of such contributions. Amazon has not reported any outside spending in the 2024 election cycle as of February 2025.
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Amazon's PAC contributions
In the 2022 election cycle, Amazon contributed at least $369,000 to members of Congress who did not support the formation of a January 6 investigation. Amazon's PACs have also donated to federal lawmakers who opposed voting rights legislation and supported anti-voter legislation during the same cycle. These contributions have raised concerns among investors and the public, particularly after the Capitol riots and the push to pass restrictive voting laws that disproportionately affect racial minorities.
Additionally, Amazon announced in 2019 that it would introduce voice-controlled donations to presidential campaigns through its Alexa device. This feature raised questions about the legality and screening process of such contributions. Overall, Amazon's PAC contributions have been substantial and have favoured conservative candidates and issues, with a notable portion going to election deniers.
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Amazon's voice-controlled donations
Amazon has been a major contributor to political campaigns, with records showing that the company and its founder, Jeff Bezos, spent nearly $17 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle. Amazon's Political Action Committees (PACs) have shown a clear partisan preference, with two-thirds of their spending going to Republicans. Amazon contributed at least $180,500 to election deniers, and from the available data, it donated $731,000 to politicians and campaigns.
Now, Amazon is taking steps towards voice-controlled donations through its Alexa devices. Amazon users can now ask Alexa to make donations to their favorite nonprofits. This development is a result of the growing proliferation of smart speakers in U.S. households, with Amazon cornering over 70% of the market share. More than 330 nonprofits have registered to accept voice donations via Alexa, and Amazon has provided an FAQ section for nonprofits interested in signing up for the service.
Some of the largest nonprofits in the U.S., such as Habitat for Humanity and the American National Red Cross, were not initially listed as available to accept voice donations. However, some chapters of these organizations, like Habitat for Humanity of Ohio, were included. To establish trust with users, some nonprofits have created unique Alexa-enabled skills. For example, the National Audubon Society has a skill that plays bird songs when prompted.
While Amazon is making strides in voice-controlled donations, it has faced criticism for its privacy practices. In 2023, Amazon agreed to pay $25 million in civil penalties for storing children's interactions with Alexa indefinitely. Additionally, Amazon allowed employees to listen to Alexa voice recordings, raising concerns about user privacy. With the upcoming release of Alexa+, a subscription-based assistant, Amazon will no longer support the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature, requiring users to grant access to their voice recordings or stop using Echo devices.
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Frequently asked questions
Amazon and the Bezos family donated nearly $17 million during the 2023-2024 election cycle.
Amazon contributed at least $180,500 to election deniers during the 2023-2024 election cycle.
One out of every four dollars that Amazon's PAC contributed went to election deniers during the 2023-2024 election cycle.
