Multiple companies yank donations from Republicans who opposed Electoral College certification

At least three major corporations have announced they will stop giving to the political campaigns of Republican lawmakers who opposed the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

The development comes as America attempts to reckon with the deadly riots on the U.S. Capitol last week, which happened as a joint-session of Congress was meeting to certify Biden's win. Those lawmakers who opposed the certification have been at least partially blamed for helping instigate the riots by sowing doubt into the legitimacy of Biden's victory.

Despite the violence, 147 Republican lawmakers — 139 representatives and eight senators — still voted against the certification of Electoral College results.

What's happening now?

Popular Information, a political newsletter operated by left-wing operative Judd Legum, contacted 144 corporations that financially supported the Republican lawmakers, specifically the eight senators, through their corporate PACs, asking if the companies would continue to support the lawmakers.

In response, three of the companies told Popular Information they would stop donating:

• Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain
• Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of America's largest health insurance providers
• Commerce Bancshares

In a statement, a spokesperson for Marriott said, "We have taken the destructive events at the Capitol to undermine a legitimate and fair election into consideration and will be pausing political giving from our Political Action Committee to those who voted against certification of the election."

Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association president and CEO Kim Keck told Popular Information that it was suspending political donations to the 147 Republicans who voted against certification, calling their decision one that sought to "undermine our democracy."

At the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, we continuously evaluate our political contributions to ensure that those we support share our values and goals. In light of this week's violent, shocking assault on the United States Capitol, and the votes of some members of Congress to subvert the results of November's election by challenging Electoral College results, BCBSA will suspend contributions to those lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy.

While a contrast of ideas, ideological differences and partisanship are all part of our politics, weakening our political system and eroding public confidence in it must never be. We will continue to support lawmakers and candidates in both political parties who will work with us to build a stronger, healthier nation.

Commerce Bancshares told Popular Information, "At this time, we have suspended all support for officials who have impeded the peaceful transfer of power. Commerce Bank condemns violence in any form and believes the actions witnessed this week are abhorrent, anti-democratic and entirely contrary to supporting goodwill for Americans and businesses."

Legum later said that Citibank also told him it would pull their donations, but in Legum's article, he said that Citibank was pausing all PAC donations, not just those for Republicans.

A few companies told Popular Information they would temporarily suspend all PAC donations without partisan particularity, while others told the newsletter they were reviewing their policies.