Michigan businesses rethink political donations after deadly riot at US Capitol

DETROIT – After the deadly siege of the United States Capitol and objections to the results of the 2020 general election, some companies are again examining how they spend their money in DC

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The 2020 election cycle was the most expensive in history and much of it was spent in Michigan. If money talks in politics, then Michigan business talks loud.

On Thursday, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that its Political Action Committee (PAC) is also reassessing who it gives its money to. In 2020, the chamber gave more than $20,000 in donations to candidates on both sides of the aisle, including Rep. Lisa McClain, who voted to oppose election results in Pennsylvania and Arizona.

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In a joint statement, members of the chamber said they “expect all leaders not to trade lies, to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, to respect the will of the Michigan voters, that they stand up for enduring core American values.”

The chamber joins several other major companies that are rethinking their giving. Rocket Companies, Ford Motor Company and GM all donated millions to candidates and parties in the 2020 election cycle – all said they were suspending new donations or rethinking their standards for donating to political parties and candidates.

Midland’s Dow Incorporated – which has given more than $370,000 in 2020 – said it would stop contributions to “any member of Congress who votes to oppose certification of the presidential election”, but only for the next election cycle.

All of the companies rethinking their giving are not contributing alone, rather through action committees or other affiliates, but it is their voice in politics. Other big Michigan companies like Lear, Whirlpool and Kellogg’s haven’t said whether they’ll suspend donations or change how they spend their political money, but the pressure is on.

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