New document reviewed by Issue One reveals how drug industry plays the political dark money game

A new tax filing obtained by Issue One details previously unreported contributions to politically active nonprofits made in 2024 by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade association also known as PhRMA that represents the country’s top drug companies, including Eli Lilly, Merck, and Pfizer.

One of the largest contributions detailed in the new filing is $4 million given to the American Action Network, a dark money group aligned with House Republican leadership that has spent significant sums over the years to bolster House Republican candidates.

In 2024 alone, the American Action Network spent $26.5 million on ads that boosted House Republican candidates and the GOP’s policy agenda in battleground districts. It also contributed $28.8 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC that spent heavily to aid congressional Republicans ahead of the 2024 elections — accounting for about $1 of every $6 the Congressional Leadership Fund raised last year.

Tax records reviewed by Issue One show PhRMA has now given $42 million to the American Action Network since January 2010, when the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision empowered political dark money groups to spend unlimited sums in elections.

“Documents like these new tax filings allow the public to pull back the veil on how well-funded corporate and special interests are secretly maneuvering to influence public policy and elections,” said Issue One Senior Research Director Michael Beckel.

Beckel continued: “When wealthy donors and corporate interests work to curry favor with politicians out of the spotlight, there is no accountability. Voters across the political spectrum dislike dark money and want commonsense transparency measures enacted that shine a light on those who are trying to secretly influence campaigns and policy making.”

Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, both Republicans and Democrats have used dark money groups to influence elections, with voters typically remaining in the dark about who bankrolls these efforts. Obscure government filings, such as the annual Form 990 tax filings submitted by nonprofits to the IRS, offer rare windows into the funders of these major political players.

Two of the largest Democratic-aligned dark money groups are groups called Majority Forward and House Majority Forward. Tax records reviewed by Issue One indicate that PhRMA has not contributed to either of these groups between 2010 and 2024, though PhRMA does contribute to candidates and political groups on both sides of the aisle.

Other notable contributions from PhRMA to politics-adjacent and politically active nonprofits in 2024 include:

• $391,000 to a Minnesota-based, free market advocacy group called the Domestic Policies Caucus.
• $250,000 to ALEC Action, the lobbying arm of the American Legislative Exchange Council.
• $200,000 to the American Legislative Exchange Council, a collaboration between state legislators and business interests that produces and disseminates model legislation.
• $200,000 to the Third Way Foundation, also known as the Progressive Policy Institute, which pushes what it describes as “radically pragmatic” policy ideas.
• $150,000 to Conservative Leadership for Missouri, an advocacy group aligned with Republican leaders in Missouri.
• $150,000 to the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute, a conservative-aligned think tank in Texas.
• $107,500 to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative-aligned think tank in Texas
• $65,000 to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a nonprofit associated with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
• $25,000 to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the Congressional Black Caucus.
• $25,000 to the Governing Majority Education Fund, an advocacy group focused on promoting conservative policies in Florida.
• $25,000 to Moving NC Forward, an advocacy group aligned with Democratic leaders in North Carolina
• $20,000 to Americans for Prosperity, the flagship advocacy organization of the political network founded by conservative billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch.
• $20,000 to the Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball, a nonprofit that hosts a gala where legislators mingle with donors and special interests.
• $10,000 to Michigan Values, a nonprofit associated with Michigan State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-MI).
• $10,000 to the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Office Foundation, a nonprofit associated with the governor of Ohio.