Highlights from FEC Filings
A super PAC supporting Marco Rubio for president reported Sunday that it raised $14.4 million in the last half of 2015.
Among the biggest donors mentioned in the report filed by Conservative Solutions with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday: Long-time supporter Norman Braman, who donated $1 million for the PAC tasked to fend off some $25M or more in attack ads against Rubio in the early primary states. This brings Braman’s total to $6 million to date. Paul Singer, who announced his endorsement of Rubio in October, donated $2.5 million, as well as Kenneth Griffin.
Other prominent donors include Cliff Asness, who donated $1 million; Fairholme Capital’s Bruce Berkowitz donated $250,000, Harlan Crow donated $100,000, Russell Galbut donated $10,000, Seth Klarman donated $250,000, Edward Levy donated $25,000, and Houston Texans Owner Robert McNair donated $500,000.
“The $30 million raised and the continued strong fundraising in January allowed us to fully fund our campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire, so much so that we were able to go up on TV a month earlier than originally planned,” Jeff Sadosky, the super PAC’s spokesman said in a statement. “That air cover has been incredibly important as Marco has found himself attacked by Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton and the assorted groups supporting their candidacy.”
Griffin and Singer also donated a respective $500,000 to Ending Spending Action Fund, an independent organization that supports candidates who favor free enterprise and balancing the budget. Marlene Ricketts, the owner of the Chicago Cubs, donated $850,000.
The Rubio campaign also announced its strongest fundraising quarter to date, raising $14.19 million in the 4th quarter. Rubio has $10.39 million cash on hand, slightly ahead of one-time GOP favorite, Jeb Bush, who has $7.58 million cash on had going into 2016.
Right to Rise, a pro-Jeb Bush super PAC, raised $15 million in the last half of 2015, bringing its total fundraising haul in 2015 to $118 million.
Donors contributing to the pro-Jeb PAC include George Klein ($50,000), Marc Stern donated ($100,000), Mel Sembler ($100,000), and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, who donated $5,000.
Right to Rise has $58.6 million cash on hand.
The pro-Hillary Clinton Priorities USA Action super PAC raised $25 million in the second half of 2015, according to its FEC filing. George Soros donated $6 million just in December, bringing his total pro-Hillary cash to $8 million. Other major donors include Haim and Sheryl Saban, who donated a combined $3 million, and Daniel Abraham, who donated $1 million. Amon g others, Francesca Schwartz donated $25,000, Mary Pritzker donated $450,000, and Jay Robert Pritzker donated $450,000.
Pursuing America’s Greatness, which backs Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, raised $1.2m in the second half of 2015, according to FEC filing. Among other corporations and donors, Children of Israel donated $150,000, Meuchadim of Miami donated $10,000, and Cherna Moskowitz donated $5,000.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam maxed out to Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign in the last quarter of 2015, according to FEC records. The Adelsons have yet to announce their picked favorite in the Republican primaries. According to BuzzFeed’s Rosie Gray, Miriam Adelson’s daughter from a previous marriage, Yasmin Lukatz, and her husband Oren each gave $2700 to the Rubio campaign. Patrick Dumont, the husband of Miriam Adelson’s other daughter Sivan Ochshorn, also maxed out to the Rubio campaign.