NFL owners have collectively contributed over $18 million to the 2026 midterm elections, with the majority of these funds directed toward Republican candidates, according to Federal Election Commission records.
The ownership groups of several NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys, were among the top donors. The principal owner of the Denver Broncos, Rob Walton, accounted for nearly half of the league's total political spending, contributing $8.96 million. Approximately $7 million of Walton's donations went to Americans for Prosperity, Inc., a group associated with the Koch network, to support Republican candidates in Senate races.
Broncos co-owner Greg Penner, who is also the chairman of Walmart, contributed $349,000. The majority of Penner's donations went to Great Opportunity PAC, a committee that has shifted its outreach to focus on Black and Hispanic voters for former President Donald Trump.
Other significant Republican donors included Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who spent $2.06 million, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who 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.
Despite the overall trend, a few owners made notable contributions to Democratic campaigns. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank donated $315,000 to Democratic causes, with a portion aimed at helping Democrats regain control of the Senate. Blank also made a $3,500 contribution to the reelection campaign of New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
New Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla emerged as a significant Democratic donor within the league, contributing $2.09 million, including a $2 million check to the Democratic Party's Senate arm. Some conservative owners also directed funds toward 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.