Oregon’s Biggest Ballot Measure Contributions and The People Who Made Them

Friday, October 17, 2014

GoLocalPDX News Team

Photo Credit: stevendepolo via Compfight cc

The biggest campaign cash donations in Oregon this election season came from out of state donors and went to the two contentious ballot measures.

Committees for or against Measure 92, which would require the labeling of foods with Genetically Modified Organisms, received all but two of the state’s largest single cash donations.

The controversial ballot measure is similar to the labeling initiatives that failed to pass in California and Washington after big opposition pushes backed by money from out of state corporations.

See Slideshow Below: Who gave half a million dollars or more this election season?

The biggest single campaign contributions from corporations came from Texas Billionare John Arnold, who gave $1.5 million to the Top Two campaign and Monsanto Company, who gave $1.5 million for anit-GMO labeling initiative, No on 92. Monsanto is located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Three other out-of-state organizations gave $500,000 or more against the ballot, including $870,000 from Kraft Foods, $695,000 from General Mills, and $650,000 and $500,000 single donations from Pepsi Company.

Supporters of GMO labeling, however, shelled out some big bucks as well. The Center for Food Safety Action Fund gave a cash donation of $1 million. Mercola Com Health Resources LLC and Bronner’s Magic Soaps each donated $550,000 for Yes on 92. The big money funelling into Yes on 92 is all from Oregon companies.

Although legal marijuana may be getting all the attention this election cycle, a ballot measure that would alter the way Oregon does elections is drawing some huge out of-state-money. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $1.25 million in favor of the so-called Top Two Primary initiative.

Primaries are normally closed to all but party voters, who then select which candidate will run in the general election. In recent years, critics have said primaries tend to only draw extremist voters, who then elect polarizing candidates. The proposed measure would create a new general election and runoff system. Instead of a party primary, all voters would vote on any candidate in the field. The top two candidates from that election would then go to a runoff.

Related Slideshow: Biggest Oregon Campaign Contributions

The biggest single campaign cash donations in Oregon this election season mostly came from out-of-state donors and went to two contentious ballot measures.

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$2.5 million

Campaign: Anti- Measure 92- GMO Labeling

Donor: Monsanto Company, a multinational agriculture and biotechnology company, gave a $1.5 million contribution to a campaign against Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Photo Credit: Greg Lilly Photos via Compfight cc

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$1.5 million

Campaign: Pro- Measure 90- Open Primary

Donor: John Arnold, a billionaire from Texas and former Enron executive, who now works for charities and political change, gave a $1.5 million contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 90.

Out of state donation

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Campaign: Pro- Measure 92- GMO Labeling

Donor: Mercola Health Resources LLC, owned by Dr. Joseph Mercola, a company that supplies health articles, medical news, and wellness products, gave a $550,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Donor: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, an organic soap company, gave a $550,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

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$500,000

Campaign: Anit- Measure 92- GMO Labeling

Donor: Pepsi Company gave a $500,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Photo Credit: Cristóbal Alvarado Minic via Compfight cc

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$100,000

Campaign: Pro- Measure 92- GMO Labeling

Donor: Organic Consumers Fund, A 501 c4 lobbying partner of the nonprofit and online grassoots Organic Consumers Association, gave five $100,000 contributions to campaigns supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Donor: Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps gave two $100,000 contributions to campaigns supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Donor: Mercola.com Health Resources LCC gave a $100,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

Donor: Clif Bar and Company, a national organic food and drink producer, gave a $100,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 92.

Out of state donation

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$100,000

Campaign: Anti- Measure 90- Open Primary

Donor: Defend Oregon, an Oregon coalition that traditionally supports ballot initiatives sponsored by conservatives, gave a $100,000 contribution to a campaign against Measure 90.

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$100,000

Campaign: Pro and Anti- Measure 91- Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

Donor: Philip Harvey, a libertarian activist from Washington, D.C., gave a $100,000 contribution to campaign supporting Measure 91.

Out of state donation

Donor: Henry Van Ameringen, an heir to International Flavors & Fragrance and LGBTQ activist from New York, gave a $100,000 contribution to a campaign supporting Measure 91.

Out of state donation

Donor: Drug Policy Action, an advocacy and political arm of the Drug Policy Alliance, working to reform drug polic,y gave two $100,000 contributions to a campaign supporting Measure 91.

Out of state donation

Donor: Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association gave a $100,000 contribution to a campaign against Measure 91.