How Food Manufacturers Are Shaping the 2024 ElectionHow Food Manufacturers Are Shaping the 2024 Election

As one of the largest industries in the US, food manufacturing is making a statement in this 2024 election.

Kristen Kazarian, Managing Editor

October 16, 2024

2 Min Read
Food manufacturers have made their decisions on which party they follow
Food manufacturers have made their decisions on which party they follow, and who they want into various offices both state and nationwide.filo/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Food Manufacturers have contributed to the Kamala Harris campaign with $296,533 and Donald Trump’s campaign with $169,491 which gives the Democrats the edge. Yet, moving to state races, Republicans are in the top.

For the overall 2024 campaigns, individual contributions by food manufacturers are at $5.6 million; PAC donations came in at $817,550, and soft money/outside groups contributed $1.57 million, according to OpenSecrets.

Additionally, average contributions given to all members of Congress show the food manufacturing industry put forth $3,830 to Republican House members, and $2,310 to Democrat House members.

In 2024, both the Senate and House of Representatives in the US Congress are up for reelection.

For Senate members, food manufacturers gave an average of $5,220 to Republicans, and $4,020 to Dems.

Top 5 Senator contributions

Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)        $35,165
John Boozman (R-AR)                $30,500
Rick Scott (R-FL)                       $27,394
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)             $22,358
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)             $21,728

Note: Both Republican senators (Ted Cruz and John Cornyn) were in the top 20 contributions.

In the House, average contributions by food manufacturers to Democrats numbered $2,310, with Republicans raking in $3,830.

Top 5 House Member contributions

Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)       $43,600
Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)             $32,498
Glenn Thompson (R-PA)           $32,350
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)              $28,943
Angie Craig (D-MN)                   $28,815

OpenSecrets shares that from 1990 through 2024 (to Sept. 22, 2024), the industry has given more to the Republican Party than to the Democratic Party.

Here are some of the top food manufacturers and the 2024 election campaigns they contributed to:

Campaign_contributions_from_food_manufacturers.png

Note: Statistics above for the 2024 election are based on Federal Election Commission data released on Sept. 22, 2024.

Food manufacturing definitely has made a notch in contributions for each party. To date, the election is still up in the air and, likely as in years past, will be relying on the 7 swing states with 93 electoral votes to have a say. Those states are Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Contributions from food manufacturers have slid since 2020 for Congress races. However, many states are a toss-up this year in the House of Representatives with both sides as possible winners. As for the Senate, the Dems hold a slight majority, but the GOP needs to win just one of two tight races to take control — unless there is an upset elsewhere in the Senate.

About the Author

Kristen Kazarian

Managing Editor

Kristen Kazarian has been a writer and editor for more than three decades. She has worked at several consumer magazines and B2B publications in the fields of food and beverage, packaging, processing, women's interest, local news, health and nutrition, fashion and beauty, automotive, and IT.

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