With help from Daniel Lippman
FIRST IN PI — TRANSPO DONORS GALORE IN ALFONSO’S Q1 FILINGS: Wisconsin congressional candidate Michael Alfonso’s campaign raked in donations from dozens of lobbyists and industry executives in the first quarter of the year, and many of them seem to have one thing in common: they stand to profit from currying favor with Alfonso’s father-in-law, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
— According to Federal Election Commission data reviewed by PI, at least one in four individual donors who contributed to Alfonso’s campaign this quarter are tied to companies that work directly or indirectly with the Trump administration and Duffy’s Transportation Department. The campaign’s donor rolls include the CEOs of passenger rail companies Brightline and Dreamstar, top executives at aviation fuel provider AEG Fuels, and Deborah Kenney, the founder and CEO of AI-powered carpooling app Ride Pair. Kenney told PI in a statement that she “was very impressed with Alfonso” and believes he will win his race.
— Some of the companies represented in Alfonso’s latest FEC filing also contract directly with the Trump administration: Amy Parish, the vice president of UFA Inc., donated $5,000, for example. Her company provides air traffic control simulation and training tools to the Defense Department. And aircraft company Electra’s president and CEO, Marc Allen, donated $1,250 — just weeks after his company was selected by DOT to participate in the Trump administration’s new Advanced Air Mobility Program.
— Only a third of Alfonso’s donors this quarter were in-state, with wealthy donors from Florida, Texas and California pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into his campaign. Nearly a dozen lobbyists registered to represent clients on transportation issues also contributed to Alfonso’s campaign, including Trump ally Jeff Miller, who lobbies on behalf of Uber (among other clients), and Venture Government Strategies partner Hamilton Bloom, who is registered to lobby on behalf of aerospace manufacturer Boeing and the U.S. Travel Association, according to public disclosures.
— Alfonso’s donor list also includes SBL Strategies CEO Jeff Loveng, a former chief of staff to ex-House Transportation Committee Chair Bill Shuster. Loveng has lobbied on behalf of American Airlines and other companies active in the transportation sector. Alfonso raised thousands from political action committees with industry ties, too, like Southwest Airlines’s PAC and aerospace company General Dynamics’s PAC. Alfonso raised nearly half of his PAC donations from transportation industry PACs in his first quarter, PI previously reported.
— “Michael Alfonso is the only candidate in the race endorsed by President Trump,” campaign spokesperson Max Docksey told PI in a statement. “He has earned support from conservative leaders, including a majority of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation, and from grassroots supporters across the district and country. Every decision he makes will be driven by one priority: fighting to put the people of Wisconsin’s 7th District first.”
— The White House last year quietly expressed frustrations about Duffy’s decision to appear at an Alfonso campaign fundraiser without their permission, POLITICO previously reported. Ethics experts have also raised concerns about Duffy’s name appearing on the invite for a separate campaign event sponsored by transportation lobbyists in December (Duffy ultimately did not attend). A spokesperson for the Transportation Department did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the other donors and companies contacted by POLITICO.
Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. Read on for more news and tidbits from the latest FEC filings. Send tips and K Street gossip to [email protected] and [email protected] or message us on Signal at jwendler.89 and danielbarnes.13. And don’t forget to follow us on X at @jacob_wendler and @dnlbrns.
FIRST IN PI — MORE BIG MONEY HITS CO-08 PRIMARY: Democratic House candidate Shannon Bird has received donations from several wealthy out-of-state donors despite claiming her campaign “isn’t fueled by out-of-state billionaires,” Jacob and Daniel L. report.
— In a February fundraising email, the Colorado campaign said Bird, a former state representative, was “the only candidate in this race running a grassroots campaign powered by Coloradans.” But Bird’s campaign has accepted nearly $50,000 from billionaires and their relatives — including Texas billionaire Tench Coxe and his wife, Simone Coxe — according to FEC filings reviewed by PI. Tench Coxe, who’s worth $7.8 billion according to Forbes, is the third largest individual shareholder of chipmaker Nvidia as of last month.
— Leslie Bluhm, the daughter of billionaire real estate magnate Neil Bluhm, has also contributed to Bird’s campaign, per public filings. Neil Bluhm was one of several billionaires who donated to Democratic candidate Manny Rutinel — Bird’s main primary opponent who has also claimed that his campaign is not supported by billionaires — as PI reported last month.
— Bird’s campaign also received large contributions from Democratic megadonor Mark W. Heising, media mogul James Murdoch and his wife Kathryn Murdoch, and billionaire philanthropist Lynn Schusterman and her daughter Stacy Schusterman, per records filed yesterday. Spokespersons for the Murdochs and for the Schusterman and Heising family foundations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
— Eve Zhurbinskiy, Bird’s campaign manager, said the fundraising email’s claim that the campaign “is fueled by Coloradans, with 87% of our dollars raised in state” was correct. “That’s in stark contrast to Manny Rutinel, who has only raised 12% of his dollars in state, and Gabe Evans, who’s only raised 28% of his cash in state,” she told PI. Those figures are based on itemized individual contributions reflected in FEC filings, which do not account for all donors.
— Clay Volino, Rutinel’s campaign manager, said “Bird needs big money to lie to voters because Bird was the only Democrat who voted to let ICE raid our schools. Her mailers say one thing, her record says another.” Evans’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
— The fight for Colorado’s 8th District comes as Evans, a Republican who flipped the battleground district in 2024, is looking to defend his seat against a competitive Democratic primary field. The Coxes did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesperson for Leslie Bluhm declined to comment.
FIRST IN PI — BANKS LAUNCH NEW GROUP: The American Growth Alliance today announced the Opportunity Forward Alliance, a new separately operated 501(c)(4) that will support candidates and elected officials who share the group’s economic agenda, Daniel B. reports.
— OFA will first make its presence felt in congressional races for Oregon’s 5th District and Texas’ 34th District where it will spend up to $2 million, including on incoming ads. “[OFA] is proud to support leaders dedicated to strengthening the economy and expanding opportunity for the middle class,” said OFA adviser Michael Halle.
— The new effort comes four months after the initial launch of the American Growth Alliance, an effort by the Financial Services Forum aimed at promoting the economic benefits of America’s banking industry. The FSF is an association formed by the leaders of eight of the largest U.S. banks: Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, State Street Corporation and Wells Fargo.
— The banking industry has sought to take a more aggressive stance in recent months as it has clashed with crypto exchanges on issues like stablecoin yields, leading to delays in the passage of legislation aimed at clarifying federal cryptocurrency regulations.
DARK MONEY FLOODS MIDTERM CAMPAIGNS: Across dozens of House and Senate campaigns that reported gobs of fundraising cash in their Q1 FEC filings, one clear trend emerged: the midterms are being flooded with funds from numerous opaque dark money groups. Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC raised 44 percent of its Q1 funds through dark money group Majority Forward, per public filings, and the GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund raised roughly 20 percent of its Q1 haul through dark money group American Action Network.
— Dark money groups are throwing tens of millions of dollars at Virginia’s redistricting referendum, with nonprofit groups on both sides of the aisle keeping the identities of their individual contributors secret, per The Washington Post’s Clara Ence Morse and Gregory S. Schneider.
— Centrist group Majority Democrats PAC, meanwhile, is largely being funded by billionaire hedge fund manager Stephen Mandel and his wife Susan Zadek Mandel, as well as billionaire investor Mark Heising, CBS News’s Gabe Kaminsky reports. But the group fundraises alongside a mysterious hybrid PAC called The Bench — making it challenging to determine who is being paid by whom, per CBS.
— And Republicans are pouring funds into the Democratic primary in Nebraska’s 2nd District to try and sink Democratic state lawmaker John Cavanaugh in the race to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Don Bacon, Puck’s Leigh-Ann Caldwell writes. Donors are funneling money through dark money group American Action Network, which is closely aligned with Speaker Mike Johnson and the Congressional Leadership Fund.
VANCE’S CASH: Vice President JD Vance is benefiting, politically and financially, from his second job as RNC finance chair as he quietly lays the groundwork for his expected 2028 presidential run, Theodore Schleifer and Shane Goldmacher report for The New York Times.
— Vance is the first vice president to simultaneously serve as his party’s chief fundraiser, giving him a unique opportunity to glad-hand with donors, ostensibly for the benefit of all Republicans, but also for the benefit of his own growing political operation. Tickets to Vance’s RNC fundraisers usually go for about $100,000-$250,000, according to The Times.
— Those fundraisers have given Vance an opportunity to win over skeptics who might prefer a different candidate in 2028. One such mega-donor who backed Marco Rubio in 2015, hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, has apparently been swayed by Vance’s overtures.
— “Mr. Vance and Mr. Singer, people close to both men said, talk regularly by phone and text,” according to The Times. “Mr. Singer recently contributed the maximum, $443,000, to the R.N.C. at Mr. Vance’s request.”
BEHIND TRUMP’S SEASONAL VISAS REVERSAL: The Trump administration’s reversal on proposed cuts to the number of available seasonal worker visas came after a lobbying campaign by hospitality industry leaders and members and staff of Trump’s own private clubs, Brian Schwartz and Michelle Hackman report for The Wall Street Journal.
— In January, during one of the president’s trips to Florida, he was approached by Bernd Lembcke, a former manager of Mar-a-Lago, and Peter Petrina, a longtime member of the club, to make the case for the seasonal visas used to hire additional help during peak tourism season. The meeting was arranged by a manager of another Trump club, Adrian Tudor of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, according to the Journal.
— Weeks later, the Trump administration announced it would no longer seek to cut by half the amount of seasonal visas issued in 2026. Trump’s private properties are regular users of the visa program, which has also drawn support from conservative Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), whose district includes crab pickers that rely on the temporary worker visas.
SPOTTED at Ned’s Club yesterday morning for Puck’s Power Breakfast, hosted by the American Association of Railroads: Ian Jefferies of AAR, Chanse Jones of PhRMA, Billy Reilly of Consumer Bankers Association, John McCarthy of Causeway Strategy Group, Firas Ibrahim and Seval Oz of the Transportation Department, Erin Billings and Kelly Bourne of LSG, Brian Bartlett of Kekst CNC, Jay Driscoll of Forbes Tate Partners, Matt Mowers of Valcour, and Cody Saunders of PLUS Communications.
SPOTTED (also) at Ned’s Club last night for a reception hosted by MoonPay and Galaxy: Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Brian Steil (R-Wis.); Keith Grossman, Caroline Pham and Matt Sullivan of MoonPay; Jason Urban and Natalia Li of Galaxy; Tyler Williams, Andrew Rittenhouse and Matt Rosenthal of the Treasury Department; Jeff Sprecher, Trabue Bland and Alex Albert of Intercontinental Exchange; Ammon Simon, Jeff Naft and Kathleen Gayle of the Senate Banking Committee; Elad Roisman of Cravath; Brent McIntosh of Citi, Connor Coleman; Ian Mair; Alison Parent of the Global Financial Markets Association; Ji Kim of the Crypto Council for Innovation; Tammy Haddad; Rob Wagener of Rep. Scott Fitzgerald’s office; Keaghan Ames, Matt Hoffmann, Connor Dunn and Emma Vaughn of BGR; Brendan Dunn, Brett Quick and Jack Wilkinson of Phronesis; Madison Parker and Dominique Little of Paradigm; Scott Parsons of Delta Strategy Group; and Alex Sternhell.
— SKDK announced several senior promotions today including Amy Brundage to principal; Cameron French and Erin Weinstein to managing director; Ryan Peters to senior vice president; and Ashley Whitlock to executive vice president of SKDK subsidiary Jasper Advisors.
— Lucas West is now executive vice president and head of advocacy at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. He was previously its managing director of federal government affairs.
— Amelia Suermann, now director of federal government affairs and political programs at Otsuka, is taking on the company’s lobbying, grassroots and PAC activities.
— Talia Hill has joined Forward Global as a managing director. She was most recently focused on creator advocacy on the public policy team at TikTok.
— Nick Snyder is joining American Global Strategies as a senior vice president. He was most recently chief of staff to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
— Ellen Lord is joining Marlinspike Partners as a strategic adviser. She was previously undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment in the first Trump administration.
— Julia Tarver Wood has joined Wilson Sonsini’s antitrust and competition practice. She was most recently senior litigation counsel in the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
— Charlie Husser has joined McUlsky Health Force as director of public policy and stakeholder relations. He was previously federal affairs manager for the Arthritis Foundation.
— Katelyn Jetelina is joining the Governors Public Health Alliance as an adviser, per Morning Pulse. She was previously a senior scientific consultant at the CDC during the Biden administration.
— Jennifer Walsh is now chair of Foley & Lardner’s federal lobbying team, and Katie Schoettler is now vice chair. They were previously directors of public affairs at Foley.
— Zach Helzer has joined De Beers as vice president and head of government affairs and industry relations for North America. He was previously senior director for Europe at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Empower CA Now And Chris Bennett Joint Fundraising Campaign (Empower California Now, Friends of Chris Bennett)
California Conservatives PAC (Super PAC)
Californians For Election Fairness (Super PAC)
End Predator Abuse PAC (Super PAC)
Government Laboratory (Hybrid PAC)
One PA Progressive Action (PAC)
Project Bullhorn PAC (Super PAC)
Richmond District Democratic Club Federal PAC (PAC)
Rise Florida Rise (Super PAC)
Alb Solutions: Cigna Corporate Services, LLC And Its Affiliates
Armory Hill Advocates (FKA Rawlson Policy Group): Atria Health
Armory Hill Advocates (FKA Rawlson Policy Group): Victor Simons, Md
Brandon Tinianov: Clark Street Associates LLC OBO Ceibo Technology
C6 Strategies, LLC (FKA Ms. Dana W. Hudson): Caliburn
Carpi & Clay, Inc: Natural Resources Results (OBO Pikes Peak Waterways Enterprise Corporation)
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Arc Clean Technology
Constantinople & Vallone Consulting LLC: American Association Of International Healthcare Recruitment
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Ohiohealth Corporation
Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Rigaku Analytical Devices, Inc.
Harborpoint Strategies LLC: Asrc Federal Holding Company
Holland & Hart LLP: Scout Clean Energy LLC
Kamran Daravi Consulting LLC: Mo Strategies, Inc. OBODirect Supply Senior Living Advocacy, Inc.
Kamran Daravi Consulting LLC: Mo Strategies, Inc. OBO Gifthealth
Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Waimey, A Professional Corporation: Lx Pantos America, Inc.
Live Oak Strategies: Buckner International
Mcdermott+ LLC: Camber Health
Mcdermott+ LLC: Halo Md, LLC
Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Atlantic Energy Investment LLC
Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Energy Eight, LLC
Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Fragrance Creators Association
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Dupont Specialty Products USa, LLC
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Nanohmics Inc.
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Thallios Inc.
The O Team LLC: Watereuse Association
Thorn Run Partners: Talkiatry Management Services
Van Ness Feldman, LLP: Sealaska Heritage Institute
Venable LLP: National Animal Supplement Council
Winning Strategies Washington: Supply Chain Federation
Winning Strategies Washington: The Academy Advisors, Inc.
Acorn Consulting: Port Of Olympia
American Defense International, Inc.: MCM Technology, LLC
American Defense International, Inc.: Systecon North America
Bl Partners Group, LLC: Hanwha Q Cells America Inc.
Boundary Stone Partners: The Nuclear Company
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Amfar The Foundation For Aids Research
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Ara Partners
Capitol Counsel LLC: Remitly, Inc.
Capitol Hill Policy Group LLC: Bsa, The Software Alliance
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Allen Control Systems
Checkmate Government Relations: CFG Financial Services LLC (FKA Bruce Roberts)
Checkmate Government Relations: Vantive Health LLC
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Agilitas Energy Inc.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Nelson Energy, LLC
Corrigan & USsery LLC: Small Business Construction And Engineering Coalition (Informal Coalition)
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: Rainmaker Technology Corporation
Crossroads Strategies, LLC: VLSI Technology LLC
Dentons US LLP: American Amusement Machine Association
Dentons US LLP: Amusement And Music Operators Association
Federal Business Group: Artemis, Inc
Hogan Lovells US LLP: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
Hogan Lovells US LLP: Semiconductor Industry Association
Holland & Knight LLP: Wood Mackenzie
Ice Miller Strategies LLC: First American Financial Corporation
Jackson Dewitt: Potomac Strategic Development Co LLC OBO Lions Clubs International
Lmh Strategic Solutions: Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Professional Services Council: Professional Services Council
Squire Patton Boggs: Coalition Against Unjust Sentencing
Squire Patton Boggs: Eps Industry Alliance
Squire Patton Boggs: Foodshed.Io
Strategic Marketing Innovations: 24M Technologies
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Lowell Community Health Center
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Military Impacted Schools Assn
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Pedmas Technologies & Innovations
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Precision Additive And Magnesium Innovation Group
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Smallsat Alliance
Strategic Marketing Innovations: Xentris Wireless
Sweeney & Associates LLC: Bakelite US Holdco Inc
Tch Group, LLC: International African American Museum
Telegraph Avenue Advisors: Jenner & Block LLP OBO Cook Inlet Tribal Council
The Bridge Advisory Group: Skysafe
The Burnham Group LLC: Millenium Integrated Services 2000, Inc
The Consilio Group: Advanced Photonic Sciences
The Consilio Group: Alti, LLC
The Consilio Group: Cipher Tech Solutions
The Consilio Group: Converus, Inc.
The Consilio Group: Converus, Inc.
The Consilio Group: Disaster Technologies, Inc
The Consilio Group: Evenpulse
The Consilio Group: Ierus Technologies, Inc
The Consilio Group: Natera, Inc.
The Consilio Group: N Brereton Medical Technologies
The Consilio Group: Rigaku Raman Technologies, Inc.
The Consilio Group: Surmet
The Consilio Group: Trutag Technologies
The Nickles Group, LLC: Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
The Transport Project Fka Ngvamerica: The Transport Project Fka Ngvamerica
Tripp Hollander Advisors: Contessa Health
Tripp Hollander Advisors: Wellstar Mcg Health
Varyag LLC: Atsign, Inc.
