The Political Legacy of GOP Mega-Donor Bob Perry
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Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call(AUSTIN, Texas) — Bob Perry, a homebuilding mogul and mega-donor who raised more than $23 million for Republicans in the 2012 election cycle, passed away in his sleep on Saturday at age 80.
Perry was the founder of Perry Homes, a major homebuilding company he established in Texas in 1968. He was among the pioneers of the new, post-Citizens United era in political spending, which saw a small handful of elite money men emerge as multimillion-dollar donors to super PACs in the first presidential election under their reign.
So how did Perry spread his money around, and how did his efforts influence 2012?
Though he was best known for backing Mitt Romney, Perry diversified his contributions within the GOP, donating to multiple contenders – sometimes in the same races.
Perry gave $23,450,000 to super PACs in support of Mitt Romney. But Tim Pawlenty, a contender on Mitt Romney’s short list to be his running mate, also received over $10,000 from Perry and his wife, along with $60,000 for his political action committee.
Double dipping in presidential politics has become common. The Center for Responsive Politics reported that Mitt Romney had 616 multi-givers, a third of which overlapped with Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Perry ranked third on the list of top donors to outside spending groups, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Behind Sheldon Adelson ($92.7 million) and fellow Texan Harold Simmons of Dallas ($26.8 million), Perry’s $23.4 million ranked him well ahead of the fourth-place Fred Eychaner ($14 million) and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ($13 million).
He also donated $45,000 to the campaign of George P. Bush, the 36-year-old nephew of the former president who is claiming his stake as Texas Land Commissioner in his first run for office.
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