Haslam family has spent $6.5 million on politics in less than two years

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of the Haslam family – a clan at the apex of commerce, professional sports, and Republican politics – have dumped more than $6.5 million into American elections during this two-year political cycle alone.

The family has long established itself as reliable and deep pocketed in state and federal conservative causes. However, the princely sums they pay into the political system have taken on new meaning as Jimmy and Dee Haslam, owners of the Cleveland Browns, have waged a political pressure campaign for taxpayer support to build a new, domed stadium for their NFL team.

Most of the political spending has gone to federal races via PACs and similar organizations working to elect Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate. The family is deeply tied to the national GOP – Jimmy’s brother, Bill Haslam, was a two term governor of Tennessee.

But they‘ve spent about $570,000 over the same time span attempting to shape Ohio’s political future. That money funded the campaigns of Republicans who will likely lead the state House and Senate next year. It also helped fuel two issue campaigns, both politically aligned with statehouse GOP leadership, seeking to persuade voters on proposed state constitutional amendments in both 2023 and 2024.

The Haslams have long contributed to Republican causes, despite anchoring their base of operations in Ohio in Cleveland, where Democrats largely reign. But now, their wants are more explicit and more expensive. They’re hoping statehouse leaders in Columbus will offer taxpayer support for their plan to move from a stadium on downtown Cleveland’s lakefront into a new $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park.

Earlier this month, the team announced plans to move when its lease expires after the 2028 season. But the Haslams have not outlined a financial plan to build the stadium. Previously, the team has said it wants to split the cost with taxpayers, with that $1.2 billion covered evenly by state and local governments. That ask could figure into state lawmakers’ deliberations next year on a new, two-year budget, which must pass by June 30.

The vast majority of Haslam political contributions, about $5.7 million, went to federal races. That includes $300,000 to the Senate Leadership Fund and nearly $910,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, both of which are aligned with GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. They gave about $880,000 spread between Protect the House 2024, the National Republican Congressional Committee and Grow the Majority, all entities boosting congressional Republicans.

Another $250,000 went to the Buckeye Leadership Fund, a super PAC that supported state Sen. Matt Dolan in his failed primary bid for the U.S. Senate. Members of the family contributed $66,000 to Dolan’s campaign committee as well.

In mid-August, Jimmy and Dee Haslam gave $50,000 each to the campaign of Brown‘s opponent, Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, while other members of their family kicked in $45,000 in total. Brown’s reelection campaign is one of the most closely watched, expensive races in the country because it can tilt control of the U.S. Senate.

Members of the family also gave $370,000, as of the most recent tax filings in July, so far this cycle to the Republican Governors Association.

The Haslams also have made more modest contributions to Republicans on the individual campaign level, where races are generally less expensive than their federal counterparts.

In Ohio specifically, the Haslams gave generously this cycle to Republican leadership, including Senate President Matt Huffman ($61,000), his likely successor, Sen. Rob McColley ($31,000), House Speaker Jason Stephens ($31,000), Lt. Gov. Jon Husted ($41,000) plus a long list of rank-and-file Republicans. About $10,000 of the Haslam’s money was split between three House Democrats as well.

The disclosures, reported to both state and federal election officials, shed light on a role the family has played funding efforts in Ohio to restructure the rules of state government, in lockstep with state Republican leadership. The Haslams gave $50,000 last year to a failed campaign to amend the Ohio constitution to end a century-old system of simple majority rule for future constitutional referendums. They also gave $100,000 this year to another campaign that’s defending the status quo against a citizen led initiative to create an independent, bipartisan redistricting system in Ohio for legislative and congressional maps.

The money comes from different members of the family. It includes contributions from patriarch James Haslam II, founder of Pilot Corporation, which operates a chain of convenience stores, and his wife. It also includes his son, Jimmy Haslam and his wife Dee, who own the Browns, the Columbus Crew, and a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks.

The total also includes significant funds to national races from Bill Haslam, Jimmy’s brother, who mounted a political career in Tennessee that included serving as mayor of Knoxville and two terms as governor. Bill Haslam, whose public service ended in 2019, is set to become a majority owner of the Nashville Predators NHL franchise next year.

Some money went to more provincial political campaigns. Dee Haslam is among the biggest donors ($50,000) to the Moving Central Ohio Forward PAC, which is supporting a Columbus-area ballot initiative to raise the sales tax to expand bus services and pedestrian infrastructure in town. And while not from the Haslams directly, the Cleveland Browns Foundation contributed another $30,000 to a campaign backing a proposed tax increase to fund operating and capital costs in Cleveland’s public schools.

Alongside the Haslams, James W. Johnson, executive vice president of the Browns, gave $15,000 to Husted’s campaign as well plus another $45,000 for U.S. Senate races in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer provided campaign finance data cited in this story to the Haslam Sports Group. Spokesman Peter John-Baptiste said the family‘s history of civic involvement dates back to James Haslam II working on Howard Baker’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in the 1960s. Plus, he said, Jimmy was the fundraising chair for his brother’s campaign as well as that of retired U.S. Sen. Bob Corker.

“The family has always approached their civic responsibility and political participation with great care, thought, and purpose,” he said. “Their sole intent is always to support candidates who are dedicated public servants with the leadership necessary to strengthen and improve communities in Ohio, Tennessee, and nationwide.”