that they would halt all contributions to the lawmakers who voted against certifying the presidential election results, while financial services firm Charles Schwab, went so far as to close down its corporate political action committee entirely. Others, however, continued donating to members of Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election, according to a review of Federal Election Commission filings released this week.
Toyota’s corporate PAC, for example, donated to at least 39 of the 147 lawmakers who voted against certifying the election results. A spokesperson for the carmaker had previously toldthat “given the recent events and the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, we are assessing our future PAC criteria.”
The PAC gave between $1,000 and $4,000 per candidate, records show, spending at least $59,000. Recipients included Jim Hagedorn of Minnesota, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, and Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee. “We do not believe it is appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their votes on the electoral certification,” a Toyota spokesperson said in a statement Friday.
Toyota wasn’t the only company donating to the campaigns of lawmakers who voted against certifying the election, of course. Koch Industries gave to at least six lawmakers who refused to certify the election, even though, after the election, a Koch executive said the company would “continue to evaluate, among other criteria, the civility of candidates in deciding whom to support.” A spokesperson for Koch Industries did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its recent donations.
Defense contractor Cubic Corporation gave to at least eight lawmakers who refused to certify, auto parts distributor LKQ Corporation donated to at least eight, and aerospace company Sierra Nevada Corporation pitched in for at least seven. A representative for Cubic and Sierra Nevada declined to comment, and a representative from LKQ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.