NFL owners have collectively poured over $18 million into the 2026 midterm elections – with the vast majority of the funds backing Republican candidates.
According to the Federal Election Commission records, the league’s billionaire class heavily favored the GOP, led by the Denver Broncos’ ownership group.
The Broncos’ principal owner, Rob Walton, accounted for nearly half of the league’s total political spending, contributing $8.96 million.
Roughly $7 million of Walton’s donations went to the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity, Inc. to boost Republican candidates in Senate battlegrounds.
Meanwhile, Broncos co-owner Greg Penner, who is also the chairman of Walmart, contributed $349,000, with the majority going to Great Opportunity PAC, a committee that recently pivoted their outreach to Black and Hispanic voters for Trump.
However, a handful of owners bucked the conservative trend to make significant contributions to Democratic campaigns.
NFL owners have poured over $18 million into the 2026 midterm elections (Pictured: Broncos owner Rob Walton, who accounted for nearly half of the league’s total political spending)
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank donated $3,500 to the reelection campaign of New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank donated $315,000 during the midterm cycle, primarily aimed at helping Democrats regain control of the Senate.
In a highly unusual move for an NFL franchise owner, Blank also contributed $3,500 to the reelection campaign of New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
New Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla emerged as the league’s Democratic donor, contributing $2.09 million – which included a $2 million check to the Democrats’ Senate arm.
Other major Republican donors included Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who spent $2.06 million.
Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones contributed $1.56 million. Jones’s contributions included a $1 million donation to Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. PAC.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also made substantial six-figure donations to groups supporting Republicans in key Senate races across the country.
Despite their heavy Republican spending, several conservative owners also directed funds towards selected Democrats. Ross contributed $10,500 to a PAC tied to Democratic Senator Mark Warner, while Kraft donated $27,000 to a group affiliated with New York Representative Ritchie Torres.
