ONTD Original: How Much Have Celebrities Donated To Political Campaigns?
Right on the heels of Election Day, I decided to finally finish this post I started a month or two ago but have been procrastinating on -__-" I'm not sure if there's a way to see if these celebs have made donations through other means, but I've sourced this post from the FEC's individual contributions data and cross-checked against OpenSecrets.
Katy Perry
Katy was a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter in the 2016 presidential run, donating $42,132 to her campaign. In 2016 she also gave $36,507 to the DNC and 17 states' Democrat groups. Since then, she's donated $4,000 to Cory Booker's 2017 senate campaign and $2,700 to Kamala's 2016 senate run. Her last recorded donation was $8,400 to Kamala Harris's presidential campaign in 2019.
Total (2015-2019): $93,739
Orlando Bloom
Katy Perry's fiancé (and the childhood celebrity crush I still have a soft spot for, don't @ me) gave $250 to Kamala Harris's senate campaign in 2016 and has donated a total of $3,000 to Cory Booker -- $2,000 for his 2018 senate run and $1,000 toward his presidential bid. According to public records, he has not donated since.
Fun fact: For Halloween 2016, Katy and Orlando dressed up as Hillary Clinton and a troll-Trump.
Total (2016-2019): $3,250
Lin-Manuel Miranda
An outspoken activist, LMM donated $2,000 total to both of Obama's presidential runs, $30,000 total to the Latino Victory Fund in 2017 and 2018, $4,000 to Hillary's 2016 presidential bid, and $15,600 to various Democrat senatorial and congressional campaigns across Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, New York, and South Carolina between 2012 and 2020.
Fun fact: Several of his donation records list his occupation as 'Rapper'.
Total (2012-2020): $51,600
Reese Witherspoon
Reese's donation records go back to 2003, almost exclusively to Democratic candidates. A few of them (there were many) include donations of a combined $1,500 to Hillary Clinton's senate campaigns in 2003 and 2005, a combined $8,500 to Kirsten Gillibrand's senate campaigns from 2011-2013, $45,000 to Obama's 2012 campaign, and $10,515 to various California congressional campaigns in 2018. Last year she donated $2,250 and $2,800 to Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand's presidential campaigns, respectively, and most recently in September she gave $875 to Alyse Galvin's congressional run (I-AK), $875 to the Blue Momentum PAC, and $2,000 to Amy McGrath's senate run (D-KY).
Total (2003-2020): $150,415
Eva Longoria
An active supporter,donor (and maybe fundraiser, given the large numbers?), and 2020 DNC host, a select few of Eva's donations include $40,800 to Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, along with $30,800 to the DNC that same cycle. During the 2016 elections she donated $173,970 to Hillary Clinton's presidential run, as well as $33,400 to the DNC, $125,122 to what looks like each state's own Democratic Party. She contributed $5,400 to Kamala Harris's presidential bid in February 2019, $15,600 to Jessica Cisnero's congressional campaign (D-TX). She's also donated $15,000 to the PODER PAC from 2015-2020. Her most recent donations were $10,000 to the California Democratic Party in September, and $2,800 to Mark Kelly's senatorial run in October (D-AZ).
Total (2011-2020): $669,093
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa's donor record was also surprisingly extensive. She donated $5,850 to Obama's 2008 campaign, but only $500 to his 2012 re-election. She's also given $2,700 to Jon Ossoff's 2017 congressional campaign (D-GA) and $27,569 to ActBlue and multiple Democrat congressional and senatorial campaigns across various states in 2018 and continues to be consistent in her widespread donations. She has contributed a total of $14,770 to Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
Total (2008-2020): $79,270
Ezra Koenig and Rashida Jones
Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, who I had no clue has been with Rashida Jones since 2015, has been a vocal Bernie Sanders supporter. He donated $1,650 to Bernie's 2016 presidential run and $2,623 to his 2020 campaign. He's also given $1,059 to ActBlue between 2016-2020, and this year gave a combined $800 to the congressional campaigns of Charles Booker (D-KY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Jessica Cisneros (D-TX). His most recent contribution was $500 to the Biden-Harris campaign in October.
Rashida's donation records show $1,000 to Bernie's campaign in January, $2,700 to Kamala Harris's 2016 senatorial campaign and $1,000 to Elizabeth Warren's 2012 senatorial run.
Ezra's Total (2015-2020): $6,632
Rashida's Total (2012-2020): $4,700
Ariana Grande
Ariana, who is outspoken about urging fans to get out and vote, donated $2,800 to Kamala Harris's presidential bid in July 2019. This is the only contribution on record.
Total (2019-2020): $2,800
Selena Gomez
A recent first-time voter, Selena also seems to be a first-time donor this year as well. In June she donated $10,000 to Fair Fight, and in August gave $4,400 to the DNC and at least $2,800 to Joe Biden's campaign (there were 2 $2,800 entries for the same day but I couldn't tell for sure if they were two different transactions).
Total (2020-): Definitely $17,200, but potentially $20,000
Cher
Cher, a vocal opponent of Trump, didn't have any individual contributions on file beyond a 2006 $1,000 donation to Mary Bono's House run (R-CA).
Fun fact: I was today years old when I learned that Sonny Bono, Cher's ex-husband and music partner, entered California politics in the 1980s/90s, having been elected as the mayor of Palm Springs from 1988-1992 and serving as a congressman until his death in 1998.
Total (2006): $1,000
Roseanne Barr
Known racist and Trump supporter Roseanne hasn't made any recent political donations. Apart from some early 90's contributions to Democratic candidates and a $2,300 to Cynthia McKinney's 2008 presidential bid under the Green Party, Roseanne's most recent donation was in 2012 -- $188 to her own presidential run (lol wut?).
Fun fact: She won nearly 70,000 votes in the general election in 2012, running under the left-wing Peace & Freedom Party.
Total (1992-2012): $8,216
Scott Baio
Although one of Hollywood's outspoken conservatives and a vocal Trump supporter, he doesn't have any records of donating to his campaign. He did, however, contribute $20,000 to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, as well as $12,500 to the RNC that year. His most recent donations were in 2017, $1,000 to Antonio Sabato Jr.'s congressional run, and in 2016 $500 to each Pat Toomey's senatorial campaign and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Total (2011-2017): $37,000
Isaiah Washington
On top of a $1,000 donation evenly split between WinRed and Trump's campaign in February, Isaiah set up $50 automatic monthly donations to both groups, totaling $550 so far. He donated $4,650 to Obama's presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008.
Fun fact: Formerly a registered Democrat, Isaiah switched to the Republican party in 2019, saying that the Democrats were not doing enough for the Black community. In July he appeared in a promotional interview for Trump's re-election effort.
Total (2007-2020): $6,228
Notably absent from individual contributions
Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Miley Cyrus, and Lili Reinhart, to name a few
Me, researching for this post:
ONTD, have you donated money (or time!) to any campaigns this election season?
Sources: 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Katy Perry
Katy was a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter in the 2016 presidential run, donating $42,132 to her campaign. In 2016 she also gave $36,507 to the DNC and 17 states' Democrat groups. Since then, she's donated $4,000 to Cory Booker's 2017 senate campaign and $2,700 to Kamala's 2016 senate run. Her last recorded donation was $8,400 to Kamala Harris's presidential campaign in 2019.
Total (2015-2019): $93,739
Orlando Bloom
Katy Perry's fiancé (and the childhood celebrity crush I still have a soft spot for, don't @ me) gave $250 to Kamala Harris's senate campaign in 2016 and has donated a total of $3,000 to Cory Booker -- $2,000 for his 2018 senate run and $1,000 toward his presidential bid. According to public records, he has not donated since.
Fun fact: For Halloween 2016, Katy and Orlando dressed up as Hillary Clinton and a troll-Trump.
Total (2016-2019): $3,250
Lin-Manuel Miranda
An outspoken activist, LMM donated $2,000 total to both of Obama's presidential runs, $30,000 total to the Latino Victory Fund in 2017 and 2018, $4,000 to Hillary's 2016 presidential bid, and $15,600 to various Democrat senatorial and congressional campaigns across Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, New York, and South Carolina between 2012 and 2020.
Fun fact: Several of his donation records list his occupation as 'Rapper'.
Total (2012-2020): $51,600
Reese Witherspoon
Reese's donation records go back to 2003, almost exclusively to Democratic candidates. A few of them (there were many) include donations of a combined $1,500 to Hillary Clinton's senate campaigns in 2003 and 2005, a combined $8,500 to Kirsten Gillibrand's senate campaigns from 2011-2013, $45,000 to Obama's 2012 campaign, and $10,515 to various California congressional campaigns in 2018. Last year she donated $2,250 and $2,800 to Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand's presidential campaigns, respectively, and most recently in September she gave $875 to Alyse Galvin's congressional run (I-AK), $875 to the Blue Momentum PAC, and $2,000 to Amy McGrath's senate run (D-KY).
Total (2003-2020): $150,415
Eva Longoria
An active supporter,donor (and maybe fundraiser, given the large numbers?), and 2020 DNC host, a select few of Eva's donations include $40,800 to Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, along with $30,800 to the DNC that same cycle. During the 2016 elections she donated $173,970 to Hillary Clinton's presidential run, as well as $33,400 to the DNC, $125,122 to what looks like each state's own Democratic Party. She contributed $5,400 to Kamala Harris's presidential bid in February 2019, $15,600 to Jessica Cisnero's congressional campaign (D-TX). She's also donated $15,000 to the PODER PAC from 2015-2020. Her most recent donations were $10,000 to the California Democratic Party in September, and $2,800 to Mark Kelly's senatorial run in October (D-AZ).
Total (2011-2020): $669,093
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa's donor record was also surprisingly extensive. She donated $5,850 to Obama's 2008 campaign, but only $500 to his 2012 re-election. She's also given $2,700 to Jon Ossoff's 2017 congressional campaign (D-GA) and $27,569 to ActBlue and multiple Democrat congressional and senatorial campaigns across various states in 2018 and continues to be consistent in her widespread donations. She has contributed a total of $14,770 to Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
Total (2008-2020): $79,270
Ezra Koenig and Rashida Jones
Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, who I had no clue has been with Rashida Jones since 2015, has been a vocal Bernie Sanders supporter. He donated $1,650 to Bernie's 2016 presidential run and $2,623 to his 2020 campaign. He's also given $1,059 to ActBlue between 2016-2020, and this year gave a combined $800 to the congressional campaigns of Charles Booker (D-KY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Jessica Cisneros (D-TX). His most recent contribution was $500 to the Biden-Harris campaign in October.
Rashida's donation records show $1,000 to Bernie's campaign in January, $2,700 to Kamala Harris's 2016 senatorial campaign and $1,000 to Elizabeth Warren's 2012 senatorial run.
Ezra's Total (2015-2020): $6,632
Rashida's Total (2012-2020): $4,700
Ariana Grande
Ariana, who is outspoken about urging fans to get out and vote, donated $2,800 to Kamala Harris's presidential bid in July 2019. This is the only contribution on record.
Total (2019-2020): $2,800
Selena Gomez
A recent first-time voter, Selena also seems to be a first-time donor this year as well. In June she donated $10,000 to Fair Fight, and in August gave $4,400 to the DNC and at least $2,800 to Joe Biden's campaign (there were 2 $2,800 entries for the same day but I couldn't tell for sure if they were two different transactions).
Total (2020-): Definitely $17,200, but potentially $20,000
Cher
Cher, a vocal opponent of Trump, didn't have any individual contributions on file beyond a 2006 $1,000 donation to Mary Bono's House run (R-CA).
Fun fact: I was today years old when I learned that Sonny Bono, Cher's ex-husband and music partner, entered California politics in the 1980s/90s, having been elected as the mayor of Palm Springs from 1988-1992 and serving as a congressman until his death in 1998.
Total (2006): $1,000
Roseanne Barr
Known racist and Trump supporter Roseanne hasn't made any recent political donations. Apart from some early 90's contributions to Democratic candidates and a $2,300 to Cynthia McKinney's 2008 presidential bid under the Green Party, Roseanne's most recent donation was in 2012 -- $188 to her own presidential run (lol wut?).
Fun fact: She won nearly 70,000 votes in the general election in 2012, running under the left-wing Peace & Freedom Party.
Total (1992-2012): $8,216
Scott Baio
Although one of Hollywood's outspoken conservatives and a vocal Trump supporter, he doesn't have any records of donating to his campaign. He did, however, contribute $20,000 to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, as well as $12,500 to the RNC that year. His most recent donations were in 2017, $1,000 to Antonio Sabato Jr.'s congressional run, and in 2016 $500 to each Pat Toomey's senatorial campaign and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Total (2011-2017): $37,000
Isaiah Washington
On top of a $1,000 donation evenly split between WinRed and Trump's campaign in February, Isaiah set up $50 automatic monthly donations to both groups, totaling $550 so far. He donated $4,650 to Obama's presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008.
Fun fact: Formerly a registered Democrat, Isaiah switched to the Republican party in 2019, saying that the Democrats were not doing enough for the Black community. In July he appeared in a promotional interview for Trump's re-election effort.
Total (2007-2020): $6,228
Notably absent from individual contributions
Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Miley Cyrus, and Lili Reinhart, to name a few
Me, researching for this post:
ONTD, have you donated money (or time!) to any campaigns this election season?
Sources: 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25