Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated about $50 million recently to the nonprofit arm of the largest super PAC supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a report.
Bloomberg, who Forbes ranks as the 15th wealthiest person in the world, gave the money to Future Forward USA Action after pressure from the likes of Bill Gates and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, the New York Times reported. The organization, which is registered under a section of the IRS code called 501(c)(4) that allows it to hide its donors, is affiliated with the Future Forward super PAC that is dropping historic sums to support Harris in the election through digital advertising.
2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Bloomberg’s large cash infusion to Future Forward illustrates how wealthy Democrats continue to open up their checkbooks ahead of the 2024 election between Harris and former President Donald Trump. The race is a virtual tie, with Trump ahead by just 0.1 percentage points in a Real Clear Politics polling average.
Bloomberg, 82, has publicly given the second most to Democrats this election cycle among individual donors, behind only George Soros, the 94-year-old philanthropist. Still, Bloomberg’s giving is far less than his $95 million transfers in 2018 to assist Democrats in retaking a congressional majority.
A spokesperson for Bloomberg did not return a request for comment.
Future Forward, the nonprofit group that Bloomberg helped back, has shuffled over $130 million to its super PAC arm since 2018. The super PAC counts its president as Chauncey McLean, a former campaign staffer for President Barack Obama.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
News of Bloomberg’s $50 million donation comes after the revelation that Gates, the former Microsoft CEO, also gave the same amount to Future Forward.
“I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving healthcare, reducing poverty, and fighting climate change in the U.S. and around the world,” Gates told the New York Times. “I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world.”