In the Buckeye State, donors have poured money into political action committees (PACs) supporting their favorite causes and candidates. These PACs have played a major role in Ohio, including in the 2020 election cycle, backing candidates and measures up and down the ballot. Here is a look at the ten top PACs in Ohio, ranked by donations received, as of the most recently available data.
The Ohio Republican State Central and Executive Committee State Candidate Fund is one of several PACs affiliated with the state’s Republican Party to appear on the top ten list. According to our data, this PAC raised $11,290,028. Notably, this PAC donated $1,682,718 to the campaign of Governor Mike DeWine.
According to this PAC’s website, its mission is “to recruit and elect conservative leadership to the Ohio Senate.” The PAC has found success in past elections, with Senate Republicans currently holding a 25-8 majority, up from the 24-9 majority held before the 2020 general elections. This PAC has reported $6,995,116 in contributions, with its largest contribution coming from Senator Matthew Huffman in the amount of $1,050,000.
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Democratic Party’s organization in the Buckeye State. According to our data, the Ohio Democratic Party has reported $6,660,169 in contributions, with its biggest contribution coming from the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Restricted Fund in the amount of $768,712.40.
The Ohio Democratic Party State Candidate Fund follows the state’s party on the list of the top ten PACs in the state, reporting $5,706,840 in contributions. The PAC’s largest contribution came from the Ohio House Democratic Caucus in the amount of $1,729,969. The group, which helps to elect Democrats across Ohio, also reported several expenditures to political consultants and campaigns in Ohio. According to our data, the candidate who received the largest share of funds from this PAC is Judge John O’Donnell, who unsuccessfully ran for election to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2020. O’Donnell received $348,600 from the PAC.
The Ohio Republican State Central and Executive Committee State Account (a different, but similarly-named entity from the PAC occupying the number one spot on this list) reported $5,276,796 in total contributions for the 2020 election cycle. This PAC’s largest contributors, Karen Wright and Thomas Rastin, each donated $500,000.
Ohio House Democrats comprise the House Democratic Caucus, which works to elect and promote Democrats for election to the Ohio House of Representatives. According to our data, the Caucus has reported $3,311,226 in contributions, with its largest contribution coming from House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes’ campaign in the amount of $436,000.
The counterpart to the previous PAC on this list, the House Republican Campaign Committee works to promote and elect Republicans on the ballot for the Ohio House of Representatives. According to our data, this committee has reported $2,811,630 in contributions, with its largest contribution coming in the amount of $1,000,000 from State Representative Larry Householder’s campaign.
Ohioans for Raising the Wage supported a movement to place an item on the 2020 ballot that would have approved a raise in the state’s minimum wage. The item never materialized on the ballot, but this PAC still raised $2,149,000, with its largest contribution coming from North Fund in the amount of $2,000,000.
According to the Ohio Education Association’s website, the OEA “represents more than 121,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities.” The OEA’s Educators PAC reported $1,809,000 in contributions, with its sole contribution coming from the Ohio Education Association.
Realtors PAC is the political organization representing realtors in the Buckeye State. According to our data, the PAC has received $1,734,512 in contributions, with its largest contribution coming from the Central Ohio Realtors PAC in the amount of $262,950. The group’s political activities also span the political divide, with the PAC reporting expenditures to groups affiliated with both the Ohio Republican and Democrat parties.
A complete, up-to-date list of political action committees in Ohio can be found here. You can also search for any Ohio PAC by name here. To be alerted when new data is live on our site, join us on Twitter, Facebook or by email.