San Francisco Giants owner Charles B. Johnson has given just over $2.6 million to Republican committees and candidates in the 2026 midterm cycle, according to a Front Office Sports review of federal campaign filings. That makes him by far the biggest political donor among Major League Baseball owners. MLB principal owners together gave a little more than $4 million to federal campaigns and PACs, so Johnson accounts for most of the league's total, SFGATE noted.
Where the money went
Front Office Sports reported that:
- A little more than $1 million went to the Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC that works to elect House Republicans.
- $525,000 went to the Senate Leadership Fund.
- More than $400,000 went to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
- More than $300,000 went to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
In all, his giving supported 35 Republicans running for the House and 19 running for the Senate. SFGATE, reviewing the same Federal Election Commission filings, said the money went only to Republican causes. It also reported a $500,000 donation to a joint committee launched by House Speaker Mike Johnson, plus a $44,300 check to the Republican National Committee.
How he compares
Cubs co-owner Tom Ricketts was the second-biggest MLB donor, with one partisan gift of $322,100 to his brother Sen. Pete Ricketts' joint fundraising committee. Reds owner Robert Castellini was third, at $237,100, Front Office Sports reported. Across major U.S. leagues, SFGATE said, Johnson ranks fourth among majority owners in federal donations. Ahead of him are Hawks owner Tony Ressler, Broncos owner Rob Walton and Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson.
Johnson gave about $2.86 million to Republican causes in 2024, a personal high for a single year, SFGATE reported. Representatives for the top-spending MLB owners did not respond or declined to comment to Front Office Sports.