Tech Industry Leaders and Their Political Donations

Impressive money is changing hands as IT executives play politics. The CEOs of the 20 biggest technology companies together have donated $530,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group that tracks political giving at its website, OpenSecrets.org. Some IT executives are clearly left or right, while others, such as Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, play it down the middle with financial support for both Republicans and Democrats. You may be surprised by who has donated nothing at all. Here’s a look at who gave how much to whom this election cycle.

Techies Turned Politicians

For a more grassroots look, check out CIO.com’s infographic that shows how employees at the Top 20 companies are donating.

Randall Stephenson, AT&T Amount donated: $50,048 Largest donation: $30,800, to the Republican National Committee

Stephenson supports Republican causes, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). He also contributed to the past presidential campaigns of John McCain and George W. Bush.

Michael Dell, Dell Amount donated: $20,000 Largest donation: $5,000 each to multiple Congressional candidates

Dell supports his local politicians, giving pairs of $2,500 gifts to several three Texas Republicans: Michael McCaul, Lamar Smith and John Carter. He donated another $5,000 to Dell’s own PAC, which contributes money to federal and state candidates as well as to parties and committees.

Rick Hamada, Avnet Amount donated: $5,500 Largest donation: $5,000, to Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)

Hamada supports Jeff Flake, a Republican representative in Avnet’s home state, with a donation that makes Avnet one of Flake’s top 100 supporters.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon Amount donated: $5,000 Largest donation: $5,000, to Amazon PAC

Like Google’s Larry Page and Verizon’s Lowell McAdam, Bezos chose his company’s own political action committee to receive his political contribution. The Amazon PAC has given more to Republicans than Democrats (59 percent to 41 percent).