Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, Wife Miriam Donate $213,000 to Republican Senate Election Committee in July

Posted on: August 21, 2019, 09:05h. 

Last updated on: August 21, 2019, 12:02h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
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Las Vegas Sands chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, continued their support of the GOP last month, donating a combined $213,000 to the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC), the fundraising arm for Senate Republicans.

LVS CEO Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, were big GOP donors again in July. (Image: USA Today)

The Adelsons each donated $106,500 to the NRSC in July, according to a filing released by the Federal Election Committee (FEC) on Tuesday. Backing GOP candidates is nothing new for the Adelsons, as the couple has already donated $10 million (as of mid-June) to American First Action, the political action committee (PAC) leading President Trump’s 2020 reelection bid.

I think it reflects their continued support of Senate Republicans. Not sure I can make any more of it than that,” said Josh Holmes, a former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of the Adelsons July donations in an interview with CNBC.

In addition to the aforementioned mega donation to the America First Action PAC, the Adelsons have, prior to the July gifts to the NRSC, been primarily backing individual GOP candidates in the current election cycle.

For example, in June, the Adelsons both donated to the re-election campaigns for Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), two races that are expected to be competitive in 2020.

Solidifying The Senate

In 2016, the Adelsons lavished $82.58 million on GOP candidates before ratcheting that figure up to $123.25 million for the 2018 mid-term cycle. Following substantial Republican losses in House races across the US, the Las Vegas Sands CEO and his wife reportedly complained that their donations were not used effectively and threatened to pull funding unless national Republican committees improved their spending tactics.

Currently, the GOP has a 53-47 Senate majority, but the party must defend 22 seats next year, compared to just 12 for the Democrats.

Political pundits expect that just four of the 2020 Senate contests will actually be competitive. Those include three for the GOP – Colorado and Maine because Trump didn’t win those states in 2016, and likely won’t in 2020 – and McSally’s seat in Arizona. McSally hasn’t yet won an election. She narrowly lost in 2018 and was then appointed to fill out the term of Jon Kyl, who came out of retirement when John McCain passed away.

FEC data indicate the Adelsons donated to Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in June.

Experts widely consider the Alabama seat held by Doug Jones to be the most likely Democratic Senate loss in 2020. But they may be sleeping on Michigan, where John James is back for the GOP after a surprisingly strong showing against entrenched Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow in 2018.

Support Easy To Explain

It is rumored that LVS CEO Sheldon Adelson wasn’t enthusiastic about Trump when he secured the GOP’s 2016 presidential nomination. But Miriam Adelson has long been fan of the president and Republican causes because she believes the party strongly defends Israel, her native country.

In some circles, Miriam is credited with shifting her husband’s political views and financial backing. Prior to the couple marrying in 1991, the Las Vegas Sands boss was a supporter of the Democratic party.