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Cable television broadcasting industry

Murdoch's News Corporation Doubles Down on Republican Party with $1m Donation

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a move that has sparked intense debate about the role of corporate influence in American politics, News Corporation, the media conglomerate owned by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, has doubled its backing of the Republican party in advance of next month's mid-term elections by awarding $1m to the US Chamber of Commerce, a leading interest group behind a wave of attack ads targeting Democratic candidates. This is the second significant downpayment by Murdoch to the Republican cause in three months, following a $1m donation to the Republican Governors Association in June. The US Chamber of Commerce has a stated intention to spend $75m on November's elections, with most of its funds going into "attack adverts" aimed at Democratic candidates.

Key Takeaways:

  • News Corporation has doubled its backing of the Republican party with a $1m donation to the US Chamber of Commerce, a leading interest group behind a wave of attack ads targeting Democratic candidates.
  • The donation is the second significant downpayment by Murdoch to the Republican cause in three months, following a $1m donation to the Republican Governors Association in June.
  • The US Chamber of Commerce has a stated intention to spend $75m on November's elections, with most of its funds going into "attack adverts" aimed at Democratic candidates.
  • News Corporation claims to be backing a "pro-business" stance, but a survey by the Wesleyan Media Project shows that of interest groups buying political advertising for the US Senate and House races since January, Murdoch has given large sums to two of the three highest spenders.
  • The Republican Governors Association is the biggest spender, having lent support to Republican candidates with more than 19,000 adverts at a cost of $12m.
  • The US Chamber of Commerce, recipient of the latest News Corporation donation, had the third-largest spend, having invested $7m since January on more than 8,000 adverts backing Republican candidates.
  • Murdoch's decision to swing his vast financial resources behind the Republicans this year is more likely to be an indication of where he thinks the political wind is blowing than an ideological statement.

Statistics:

  • $1m: the amount of News Corporation's donation to the US Chamber of Commerce
  • $75m: the amount the pro-Republican US Chamber of Commerce plans to spend on electioneering
  • 19,000: the number of adverts lent by the Republican Governors Association to Republican candidates at a cost of $12m
  • $12m: the cost of the Republican Governors Association's adverts
  • $7m: the amount invested by the US Chamber of Commerce on over 8,000 adverts backing Republican candidates since January
  • $6.2bn: Murdoch's wealth according to the latest Forbes rich list

Sources:

  • Politico
  • Wesleyan Media Project
  • Rolling Stone magazine
  • Forbes
  • United States Chamber of Commerce
  • Republican Governors Association
  • News Corporation

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