The Illusion of Choice: Overlapping Donors Between Centrist Democrats and Conservative Republicans

In American politics, voters are often presented with two seemingly opposed options: Democrats and Republicans. Yet beneath the surface of partisan rhetoric lies a web of shared financial interests that binds key factions of both parties together. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the overlapping donor networks of centrist Democrats—often influenced by think tanks like Third Way—and conservative Republicans, many of whom align with the Heritage Foundation.

This report explores how shared donors, particularly wealthy individuals and corporate PACs, contribute to both Third Way-aligned Democrats and Heritage Foundation-backed Republicans. It reveals how such dual-sided giving shapes policy outcomes, mutes transformative change, and narrows the scope of political choice available to the American public.

Donor Patterns: Who Funds Whom

Centrist Democrats (Third Way-Aligned) Prominent recipients:

• Sen. Joe Manchin (WV)

• Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ)

• Members of the New Democrat Coalition (e.g. Rep. Josh Gottheimer)

  Top donors include:

• Ken Langone (Home Depot co-founder)

• Harold Hamm (Oil executive)

• Stanley Hubbard (Media mogul)

• Corporate PACs from Amazon, Merck, Honeywell, Intel, etc.

These donors supported centrist Democrats who slowed or opposed progressive economic policies, such as tax increases on corporations, Medicare for All, and the Green New Deal.

Conservative Republicans (Heritage-Aligned) Prominent recipients:

• Sen. Josh Hawley (MO)

• Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)

• Sen. Tom Cotton (AR)

• Donald Trump (2020 campaign)

  Top donors include:

• The same Ken Langone, Harold Hamm, Stanley Hubbard

• Jimmy Haslam (Business owner, sports franchise co-owner)

• Corporate support through entities like Senate Leadership Fund and Americans for Prosperity

These candidates are known for advocating small government, corporate tax cuts, deregulation, and socially conservative policies promoted by Heritage Foundation policy documents.

  Overlapping Donors: Strategic Bipartisan Influence

Several wealthy donors and corporate entities appear in both camps. For example:

• Ken Langone donated to Joe Manchin’s PAC and Republican super PACs like Senate Leadership Fund.

• Stanley Hubbard supported Sinema while continuing to fund Republican candidates and Trump PACs.

• Jimmy Haslam gave to Sinema and also wrote a $425,000 check to the GOP's super PAC.

• PhRMA (the pharmaceutical industry lobby) gave to both Third Way Foundation and Heritage Action for America.

The pattern is clear: these donors are not ideologically loyal to either party. Instead, they give across the aisle to ensure influence—especially over economic policy. When progressive legislation gains traction, they bolster centrist Democrats to block it. When Republicans hold power, they fund them to roll back regulations and preserve tax breaks.

The Impact on Policy and Democracy

1. Muted Policy Choices When both parties are backed by the same financial interests, the range of acceptable policy debate narrows. Medicare for All, a wealth tax, robust climate action, or breaking up monopolies become "off the table" not because they lack public support—but because they threaten donor interests.
2. Manufactured Gridlock Centrist Democrats and conservative Republicans often collude, whether intentionally or not, to stall progress. This creates the illusion of partisan dysfunction, when in fact it's coordinated obstruction by actors with shared financial backing.
3. Voter Disillusionment People sense this imbalance, even if they can't always name it. They vote for change and get more of the same. Over time, this corrodes trust in democracy and reduces voter participation, particularly among working-class communities.
4. Managed Opposition This is not just an unfortunate consequence—it’s a feature. Donors effectively fund both the "left" and "right" wings of neoliberalism, ensuring that no matter who wins, their wealth and influence remain untouched.

Breaking the Donor Duopoly

This report underscores a vital truth: the real political divide in America is not left vs. right, but top vs. bottom. While voters argue over culture wars, powerful interests write checks to both sides, ensuring their priorities shape the agenda. True political realignment will require more than winning elections. It demands exposing the bipartisan donor class, mobilizing grassroots funding, and supporting candidates who refuse to take money from corporate PACs or billionaire donors. Until then, voters will continue to be offered a false choice—two parties, one donor class.