High Tech Industry Gives More Money to Democrats

The computers and Internet industry has given 66 percent of its money in the 2010 election cycle to Democrats, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Of the $12.9 million the industry has given to federal candidates and party committees in the 2010 election, over $8.4 million has gone to Democrats. Since corporations and labor unions by law may not contribute to federal candidates, these figures reflect contributions from industry employees, their families, and political action committees associated with computer and Internet companies.

Of the top 10 recipients of money from the computer and Internet industry this election, nine are Democrats. New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer leads with $194,384, followed by Washington Democratic Sen.Patty Murray ($176,973) and New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ($161,395). The lone Republican in the top 10 is Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown at number eight with $88,750. [See who gets the most from the computers and Internet industry.]

[See editorial cartoons about the Democratic Party.]

Microsoft is the top contributor with 60 percent of its nearly $1.3 million in contributions going to Democrats. This number reflects contributions made to incumbents, challengers, and national party committees. [See where Chuck Schumer's campaign cash comes from.]

Contributions from those associated with Cisco make it the second highest contributor in the industry with $557,919 in donations, 67 percent of which went to Democratic candidates and committees. Google is next, with $456,119 in contributions, 75 percent of which went to Democrats, followed by Intel, with 57 percent of its $373,205 in contributions going to Democrats. The fifth-most-prominent computer/internet company, Hewlett-Packard, also favored Democrats, despite the fact that its former CEO, Carly Fiorina, is running as a Republican in California's high-profile Senate race. Those associated with Hewlett-Packard gave $367,460, with only 40 percent going to Republican candidates and parties.

[See a roundup of Campaign 2010 editorial cartoons.]

Though companies in the computers and Internet industry tend to favor Democrats in their political giving, a few have given more to Republicans than Democrats. Among the major companies that give a majority of their campaign dollars to Republican candidates and committees are content delivery company Akamai Technologies (56 percent), computer manufacturer Dell (60 percent), and web-hosting service Go Daddy (63 percent).

• See more news about the 2010 elections.
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