NFL team owners have given nearly $15.4M to Republicans in federal election races since '07, including $1M to "Trump campaign committees," while giving just $1.4M to Democrats over that same time, according to Chris Persaud of the PALM BEACH POST. This data includes just "controlling team owners, not family members or team executives." The top donors during that time period are the Texans' Janice and Bob McNair, who donated $4.1M to Republicans. The McNairs also have "donated more than $551,000 to Trump's campaign committees, more than every other team owner." The late Bob McNair was among several owners to give $1M to Trump's inaugural committee. The Browns' Jimmy and Dee Haslam "spent more than $2.4 million on federal races, with $2.2 million going to the GOP." Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross ranks third with $1.7M going to Republicans, though he "gave no money to Trump's 2016 campaign, nor has he opened his wallet" for the President's reelection bid. That comes despite Ross controversially hosting a Trump fundraiser "with tickets selling for up to $250,000 in August at his home in The Hamptons." Ross also has given "more than every other team owner" to Democrats -- $310,000 -- but his "donations are lopsided, giving $5 to Republicans for every $1 to Democrats." Overall, owners have donated to Republicans over Democrats "by a margin of about 11 to 1."
JONES GIVES BLUNT RESPONSE: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones has given more than $396,000 to Republicans, and he was one of the owners to donate $1M to the Trump inaugural committee. Jones "was blunt" when asked about his right-leaning donations in October. He said of largely supporting Republicans, "That's how the country should be run but don't f--- with me, all right?" He indicated that Republicans have "run the country right ... 'to kick the asses of people like you'" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/3).
