Written by Bo Erickson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The level of political donations from major food companies accepted by Democratic lawmakers has risen during the current congressional election cycle, a Reuters analysis of Federal Election Commission data shows, even as many Democrats accuse major U.S. grocery chains and their suppliers of raising prices at the expense of consumers.
Democrats have reason to focus on food prices, which rose 25% between 2019 and 2023. Reuters/Ipsos polls show that the economy is voters’ top concern and that they have more confidence in Republicans’ ability to manage it.
Dozens of Democrats have stepped up their calls since Kroger Co., the nation’s largest grocery company by revenue, proposed a $24.6 billion merger with smaller rival Albertsons Inc. The Federal Trade Commission’s challenge to the deal, which it says is bad for shoppers and workers, begins hearings in federal court in Oregon on Monday.
Albertsons’ PAC has contributed $291,500 so far, more than triple the $90,000 it donated during the entire 2021-22 election cycle. Kroger’s PAC is also ahead, donating $141,000 so far, up from $140,500 for the entire 2021-22 election cycle.
At least 154 Democratic lawmakers or their fundraising organizations have accepted donations from a handful of major food companies during the current campaign cycle. That includes 51 congressional Democrats — one in five — who did so while publicly criticizing corporate greed in the food industry.
Some of the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrats — Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin — were among those who criticized the food companies’ tactics and took their donations.
Sixty-five congressional Democrats and their fundraising committees have received 94 contributions from Kroger and Albertsons political committees totaling $185,000, according to Federal Election Commission data through June 2024.
The two companies’ donations pale in comparison to that of Walmart (NYSE: ), whose political committee has contributed at least $441,500 to Democrats in this election.
Corporate PACs are legally allowed to donate up to $10,000 to campaigns and typically give to both parties. In all, 58 percent of Kroger and Albertsons’ combined donations went to Republican campaigns this cycle.
Sixty-eight current members of Congress have sworn not to accept corporate money, up from 59 two years ago, according to End Citizens United. Lawmakers need to realize that this may come with strings attached, activists say.
“Big corporations don’t just give these kinds of dollars to elected officials for their own health, they do so with the expectation of some sort of return,” said Morgan Harper, policy director at the antitrust watchdog. “And that return is often in an attempt to keep the wheels of government from moving to enforce the law against them.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also made cracking down on price gouging a centerpiece of her first major economic speech of her presidential campaign.
Exploding “greedy inflation”
Casey, who faces a tough re-election battle in Pennsylvania, said Mondelez International Inc. has fueled “greedy inflation” by shrinking the size of Wet Thins and Double Stuff Oreos, and criticized Procter & Gamble Co. for its prices on toilet paper, dish soap and toothpaste.
His campaign has accepted $1,000 donations from political action committees for both companies, which supply retailers including Kroger and Albertsons.
Casey’s campaign said the donor criticism was a sign of independence.
“Bob Casey is an independent fighter who will always stand with working people against corporate greed and the companies that rip off Pennsylvanians,” a campaign spokesman said.
A Mondelez spokesperson said the company takes into account “a variety of criteria including positions on public policy issues important to our business, the presence of our employees or facilities in the candidate’s district or state and key committee membership or leadership positions” when making campaign donations.
Last year, Brown, whose reelection bid in Ohio is one of the toughest for Democrats as they try to defend their 51-49 Senate majority, received $2,500 from the Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. political action committee and $5,000 from the Albertsons Co. political action committee. Brown was also the only lawmaker to receive contributions from the CEOs of the grocery chains, each contributing the maximum of $6,600.
He has widely blamed corporate spending on stock buybacks and executive bonuses for driving up food prices, and he supports the Kroger-Albertsons deal because both companies are unionized.
“If this merger is executed properly, and Kroger ensures workers have a seat at the table, the company has the potential to become one of the largest union companies in an industry increasingly dominated by non-union giants,” said Brown spokesman Kevin Donohoe.
The International Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents workers in both chains, opposes the merger.
Baldwin of Wisconsin charged General Mills (NYSE:) “deceptive” pricing to shrink the size of Cocoa Puffs cereal boxes by 1.2 ounces but at the same price. Since then, Baldwin’s campaign has received a total of $7,500 from General Mills’ political action committee.
Baldwin’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Congressional Democrats have also criticized rising prices in the meatpacking industry, but they are still accepting at least $286,000 in campaign donations this cycle from JBS USA, Tyson Foods (NYSE:) and Cargill.
Albertsons declined to comment, and the other companies mentioned did not respond to requests for comment.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.