Claim: US pro sports team owners have given at least $100 million to the 2026 midterm House and Senate races, mostly to Republicans.
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The United States midterm elections are underway, with the potential to reshape the balance of power in Washington. According to The Guardian, Democrats have won control of both the Senate and the House in a significant shift, with the complete picture of the elections yet to emerge.
More importantly, though, just days before the elections, a report from Front Office Sports has revealed that Republicans have received over $100 million from owners of major US professional sports franchises “to influence the outcome in next week’s elections.”
However, is that really the case? Here’s what we found.
Our Verdict: True
Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reveal that owners and investors associated with some of America’s biggest professional sports franchises have collectively poured more than $100 million into US politics since January 1, 2025. The contributions span both sides of the political aisle, although Republicans have received a substantial share of the money.
The figures include donations to congressional candidates, political action committees (PACs), and state and federal party organisations. However, they do not account for state-level election spending or anonymous contributions commonly associated with so-called dark money.
Much of the Republican $100 million can be attributed to former Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson, whose contributions to Republican candidates and political groups total at least $67 million. An Israeli-born physician, Adelson inherited her late husband Sheldon Adelson’s casino fortune following his death in 2021.
She was also one of Donald Trump’s biggest financial backers during his successful 2024 presidential campaign, spending more than $100 million to support his return to the White House. Beyond Adelson, no other professional sports franchise owner has directed more than $10 million towards Republicans.
Among the notable contributors is San Francisco Giants owner Charles B. Johnson, who spent slightly over $2.6 million supporting Republican candidates and committees during the 2026 midterm election cycle. The contributions also extend across several professional leagues. NFL franchise owners have collectively donated more than $20 million, making them one of the biggest contributors among sports ownership groups.
NHL owners have provided over $2.8 million, while WNBA ownership groups have contributed upwards of $540,000. Meanwhile, MLS owners have spent more than $4.5 million, compared with approximately $400,000 from NWSL owners. Several other franchise owners have also crossed the $1 million mark in contributions supporting Republican candidates and causes. They include:
- Rob Walton – Denver Broncos
- Charles B. Johnson – San Francisco Giants
- Dick DeVos – Orlando Magic
- Tony Ressler – Atlanta Hawks
- Jimmy and Dee Haslam – Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew
- Jerry Jones Sr. – Dallas Cowboys
- Philip Anschutz – LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Kings
Political contributions from sports ownership groups have not been exclusively Republican, however. Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts, whose family also owns the NWSL’s Chicago Stars, directed $250,000 to the Democrats’ Illinois Future PAC and supported several other Democratic candidates.
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank also backed Democratic causes, contributing $300,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. His individual donations included $3,500 for New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and another $3,500 for Republican and former NFL kicker Jay Feely.
Other prominent sports-connected billionaires and their political contributions
The FEC records also highlight several wealthy figures with significant connections to American sports who have channelled substantial amounts of money into political campaigns and organisations over time.
| Name | Sports connection | Political contributions |
| Ken Griffin | Major US Soccer donor | The hedge fund billionaire contributed at least $32 million to Republican candidates and PACs. He has been a longstanding supporter of Donald Trump and Republican causes. |
| Michael Bloomberg | Investor in the Baltimore Orioles | The former New York City mayor spent at least $80 million, with most of the funding directed towards helping Democrats regain control of the House. His political spending also includes billions invested in his own campaigns and preferred candidates over the years. |
| Todd Boehly | Minority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers | Boehly donated $1 million to MAGA Inc., Trump’s super PAC, alongside smaller contributions to Republican candidates running for House seats. |
| Cody Campbell | Natural gas billionaire and college sports advocate | Campbell contributed $500,000 to MAGA Inc. and more than $2 million overall to Republican causes. He has also championed the Protect College Sports Act through his Saving College Sports organisation. |
| Bill Ackman | Investor with financial interests in tennis and other sports | Ackman donated $1 million to Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign, in addition to smaller contributions to other political races. |
| Casey Wasserman | Chairman of the LA28 Olympic organising committee | Wasserman distributed approximately $500,000 among candidates from both political parties. He stepped away from his talent agency following controversy over his connections to Ghislaine Maxwell but remains involved in preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. |
Our fact-checking sources:
- BBC, November 3, 2026. Voting begins in US midterm elections that will shape rest of Trump’s presidency
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. Pro Sports Owners Have Poured Over $100 Million Into the Midterms
- Federal Election Commission. Adelson Miriam
- The Times of Israel, October 17, 2024. Miriam Adelson gives $100 million to Trump campaign, making good on reported pledge
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. Giants Owner Charles Johnson Leads MLB Midterms Spending
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. NFL Owners Shower Republicans With Millions in Midterms Cash
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. Kings’ Anschutz Outspends NHL Owners in Midterm Donations
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. Newcomer Fertitta Leads WNBA Owners in Midterm Donations
- Front Office Sports, October 28, 2026. Ken Griffin’s $32M to GOP Towers Over Soccer Election Spending
- Federal Election Commission. Laura Ricketts
- The Guardian, November 4, 2026. First Thing: Democrats sweep into control of Congress after historic midterm victories