U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, arrives for a meeting with Texas Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 4, 2023. Pfluger has received more campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry than any other elected official in the nation in the current election cycle.August Pfluger, an Air Force veteran and member of the U.S.
His concern reflects that of the industry, which heavily favors Republicans when it comes to campaign donations. Yet the sector is booming under the Biden administration — oil production in the U.S. is projected to reach record levels in 2024, with job growth in the sector outpacing the overall job market — but that performance is due less to government policy and more to global factors such as the Ukraine war and an increase in prices resulting from post-pandemic demand.
In the 2024 election cycle, the sector has contributed more than $25 million to the GOP and conservative groups compared to $3.6 million to Democrats as of April 16. At that pace, the split in donations will be even wider than it was during the competitive 2020 elections. At some oil giants, the divide is even more stark. Koch Industries, the Kansas-based conglomerate, has contributed $1.3 million to Republicans and only $710 to Democrats so far in 2024.
In response to questions about why it favors GOP candidates, American Petroleum Institute spokesperson Scott J. Lauermann replied: