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Toyota said it would halt donations to Republicans who tried to undo Joe Biden’s election victory after a weeks-long public pressure campaign forced the manufacturer to make a sharp U-turn.
The company had been burned after figures showed its corporate political action committee (PAC) had given more money to Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying Biden Electoral University victory than any other.
Toyota’s political arm donated $ 56,000 to 38 Republican members of Congress who voted to release the results in January, according to an analysis of fundraising data compiled last month by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a group surveillance.
Toyota initially responded to Crew’s analysis by saying it did not believe it was appropriate to judge members of Congress solely based on their election certification vote, but the company changed its stance Thursday.
“We understand that PAC’s decision to support select members of Congress who challenged the results worried some stakeholders,” Toyota said.
The company added: “We are actively listening to our stakeholders and at this point we have decided to stop contributing to members of Congress who challenged the certification of certain states in the 2020 elections.”
Jordan Libowitz, Crew’s communications director, said: “We are grateful that Toyota has seen the light of day and stopped giving members of the sedition group. It should not go through a public pressure campaign to get them to do the right thing, but we are glad it worked “.
Toyota is among several companies that have been criticized for giving Republicans who voted against certifying Biden’s election victory just hours after crowds of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and left several people dead. In all, 147 lawmakers, including eight senators, voted against the certification.
Ahead of Thursday’s Toyota investment, The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump PAC founded by Republicans ahead of last year’s election, launched a new advertising campaign calling on customers to boycott the car.
“It’s time to call on Toyota’s corporate leadership,” one narrator of the ad said. “If they don’t reconsider where they send their money, Americans will reconsider where we send ours.”
The Lincoln Project, which has tried to review its leadership and strategy after sexual and economic harassment scandals – has said it will launch similar announcements aimed at other companies giving to lawmakers who voted against certifying the election result.
“Toyota has made the right choice today,” the Lincoln project said after the vehicle manufacturer reversed its position. “They put democracy before transactional politics. We hope the rest of corporate America continues on its path. “
Several large companies, including Facebook, Microsoft, and JPMorgan Chase, said they would withdraw or revise political donations immediately after the Jan. 6 riot, while some companies specifically said they would not give Republicans who oppose the certification.
But corporate money has begun stepping back in Republican coffers in recent months, including the weapons of political donation from companies such as Cigna, Intel and T-Mobile. Fundraising is expected increase even more before next year’s midterm elections, when both houses of Congress are ready.
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