According to Open Secrets, employees of Indiana University donated over $740,000 to political campaigns in the 2020 election cycle; over $700,000 of that went to Democrats and candidates, such as Bernie Sanders, that are classified as independent. Just over $380,000 went to Joe Biden and his presidential campaign with the other top two recipients being Pete Buttigieg with over $89,000 and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee with just over $80,000. Bernie Sanders was the obvious leader among Independents bringing in over $78,000 from IU employees.
The Georgia Senate races, which garnered outsized media attention, also captured the attention of staff at Indiana University. The Democratic senators in Georgia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, received over $94,000 from IU employees.
Republicans did not fare nearly as well. Then President Donald Trump received less than $18,000 dollars, and the Republican National Committee got just over $7,000.
On the local and state level, $250 dollars was donated to a PAC for Governor Eric Holcomb and $20,000 was given to Andy Ruff, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for the 9th congressional district.
Many of the donations came from top university officials. Lauren Robel, the former provost and executive vice president of IU who stepped down this year, donated $1,000 to the Biden campaign in 2020, and Karen Adams, Chief of Staff for the Office of President, gave $325 to ActBlue, a technology organization that powers many Democratic campaign donations.
Nasser H. Paydar, Executive Vice President and IUPUI Chancellor, previously gave $340 to Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008.
Hannah Buxbaum, Vice President of International Affairs, donated $500 to Hillary Clinton’s presidential election campaign in 2016 and donated another $500 to Liz Watson’s campaign when she unsuccessfully attempted to unseat incumbent Trey Hollingsworth in the 9th congressional district.
JT Forbes, Interim President and CEO of IU Foundation and Executive Director of IU Alumni Association, donated to President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.
Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Thomas A. Morrison, the only person on the leadership team that has donated to a Republican, gave $500 to Richard Lugar and $250 to Republican Senator Todd Young.