In the aftermath of the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, many of Minnesota’s largest corporations publicly announced they were pausing campaign donations to all members of Congress, including those who joined Donald Trump’s push to block the certification of the 2020 election.
In the months and years that followed, most have quietly resumed donating to politicians who voted to overturn the results.
At least eight big companies with headquarters in Minnesota — including UnitedHealth Group, Target, U.S. Bancorp and Cargill — that initially suspended donations have since resumed contributions and have given more than $400,000 directly to the campaigns of members of Congress who disputed Joe Biden’s victory, according to a Star Tribune analysis of thousands of donations and Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.
“They’ve quietly picked it back up,” said Bruce Freed, president of the Center for Political Accountability, which advises corporations on responsible donations. “They’ve reverted to spending as usual, and they are engaging in spending for access.”