Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula contributed nearly $175,000 to New York Governor Kathy Hochul's re-election campaign and the New York Democratic Party, according to recent campaign finance reports. The donations, totaling $174,600, represent the largest sum the couple has given to state elections.
Terry Pegula donated $138,600 to the Democratic State Committee and $18,000 to Hochul's campaign in January. His wife, Kim, who co-owns the team, contributed $18,000 to the governor's campaign, filings released this week show. These contributions reached the maximum amount allowed by law.
The donations come after Governor Hochul was instrumental in securing $600 million in state funds to help subsidize the construction of the Bills' new Highmark Stadium, located near Buffalo. Erie County also contributed $250 million toward the project, which had an initial estimated cost of $1.4 billion. Terry Pegula has publicly thanked Hochul for her support of the stadium project.
Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker commented on the situation, stating that taxpayers funded a significant portion of the stadium and that the Pegula family made a substantial private investment. Hochul's campaign, meanwhile, framed the contributions as support for their efforts to win the upcoming gubernatorial election and help Democrats in other races.
Hochul's campaign reported having $21 million on hand in anticipation of the election, according to the filings.