5 WNY electeds taking most Paladino money, in order: Collins, Poloncarz, Kearns, Ranzenhofer, Mychajliw

While Part I of this report reviewed Buffalo developer and school board member Carl Paladino’s long history of racist, sexist, and homophobic comments, Part II examines Paladino’s political network. We look specifically at the politicians who accept significant sums of Paladino’s money – and help protect his influence.

Paladino has protected his interests and maintained his influence by donating heavily to politicians, be it individually, through his PAC, or through the dozens of LLC subsidiaries of his company, Ellicott Development. PAI found that Paladino has made nearly $3 million in campaign contributions since 2000, mostly to his own unsuccessful run for governor, and otherwise primarily to other white male candidates. Though he is a Republican and frequently attacks Republican supporters of Democratic candidates (what he calls “RINOs,” Republicans in Name Only), Paladino appears to split his political donations along racial, rather than party lines. For example, we found that Paladino has donated to every white member of the entirely Democratic Buffalo Common Council, but we have not been able to identify contributions to any of the black legislators.

Some key findings:

• The top ten recipients of Paladino’s campaign donations are all white men
• Paladino has given to the vast majority of federal, state, and local politicians representing Buffalo/Erie County – a total of $260,499 to 35 out of 41 elected officials
• Paladino has contributed to every white Buffalo councilmember and Erie County legislator, but PAI has not been able to identify Paladino contributions to the five Erie County legislators and Buffalo councilmembers who are black

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(above image includes only elected officials currently representing WNY)

Methodology

PAI analyzed data from the New York State Board of Elections and the Center for Responsive Politics to find campaign contributions made by Paladino, his Turning Albany Upside Down PAC, and by Ellicott Development and its myriad subsidiary LLCs. As Paladino’s influence is centered in Western New York, our analysis is focused on his donations to elected officials and candidates from this region, and specifically legislative and executive branch officials representing Buffalo and Erie County. Paladino’s donations to various PACs and party committees are also omitted for the purposes of this analysis, as are contributions from Paladino family members.

We aggregated Paladino’s donations from 2000 through 2015, and report contributions both since 2011 and since 2000 to show how Paladino’s relationships have developed and broken off through time.

Carl Paladino has given a total of $260,499 to 35 out of 41 federal, state, and local politicians representing Western New York

Of the nearly $3 million Paladino has donated since 2000, he has given $260,499 directly to the politicians representing Erie County at the federal, state, and local levels. This largesse has garnered Paladino considerable influence with local policymakers – 35 of 41 elected officials from the City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York State Legislature, and in the House of Representatives have taken Paladino’s money.

The top ten recipients of Paladino’s campaign donations are all white men

Table 1 below shows Paladino’s top ten all-time political donation recipients. All ten recipients are white males and, as can be seen in this and in subsequent tables, come from both major political parties. Despite routinely attacking Republicans who support Democratic candidates, Paladino does not discriminate based on party when it comes to securing influence via political donations.

Table 1. Top 10 Recipients of Paladino’s campaign contributions