Mercedes Mullins
The fossil fuel industry spends millions of dollars on electoral politics, exerting substantial financial power within the US political system. This money is funnelled into politics through various avenues, including direct donations to candidates' campaigns, contributions to political action committees (PACs), and dark money channels that obscure the source of funding. The oil and gas industry, in particular, has been known to donate heavily to lawmakers and political parties, with Republicans receiving the majority of these contributions. These donations have been linked to the influence of the fossil fuel industry on energy and climate policies, with some researchers attributing the stagnation of climate action in the US to the financial influence of the industry.
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuel industry spends millions on US politics
The fossil fuel industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on influencing US politics, with oil and gas companies donating overwhelmingly to Republican politicians and causes.
In the 2024 election cycle, oil and gas companies spent nearly $60 million on lobbying Republican Party members. Between the 1990 and 2024 election cycles, lobbying spending by the industry on the Republican Party surged to a peak of nearly $70 million in 2020, compared to $13 million for the Democratic Party.
In 2023, the top 50 recipients of oil and gas donations in the House received nearly $28 million, with $24.2 million going to Republicans. The top recipient was House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who received $2.8 million, according to one report. Another report lists McCarthy as receiving $616,563 in oil and gas donations, with the difference in figures possibly due to different time periods being measured.
The fossil fuel industry spent $219 million to elect the new US government in 2025, according to Yale Climate Connections. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to members of the US House and Senate, with an additional $2 million going to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign. This brought the total spending on winning candidates to over $26 million, 88% of which went to Republicans.
The leading campaign donors and lobbyists in the fossil fuel industry include Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, and Chevron. Koch Industries gave more than $10 million to campaign coffers in the 2018 midterms and spent another $20 million on lobbying efforts in 2017-2018. ExxonMobil spent more than $22 million on strategic messaging with political leaders during the same period, making it the largest energy lobbyist. Exxon and other oil companies have spent more than $5 billion on undermining climate science and fighting clean energy policies.
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Oil and gas companies favour Republicans
The oil and gas industry donated millions of dollars to members of the House in the last election cycle, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy receiving the most campaign cash from oil and gas interests at $2.8 million, followed by Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Nine out of the top ten recipients of oil and gas donations are Republicans, with the lone Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar, receiving $1.3 million in industry campaign donations. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the U.S. House and Senate members, with an additional $2 million to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, totalling over $26 million, 88% of which went to Republicans.
The fossil fuel industry exerts substantial financial power within U.S. politics, with outside spending from the industry rising from $2 million to over $150 million over four presidential election cycles. The industry also spends significant amounts on lobbying and advocacy advertising, with ExxonMobil spending more than $22 million on strategic messaging with political leaders, and $2.9 billion on advocacy advertising over a ten-year period.
The bias towards Republicans is also evident in the policies supported by the oil and gas industry. The industry rallied behind the Republicans' Lower Energy Costs Act, which aimed to expand fossil fuel drilling and exports. The bill was passed with the support of four Democrats and all but one Republican, demonstrating the influence of oil and gas donations on energy and climate policy. Additionally, President Trump's policy bill favoured fossil fuels and nuclear reactors over renewable energy sources, maintaining federal support for these industries while slashing tax breaks for wind, solar, and electric cars.
The influence of oil and gas companies on Republican politicians has significant implications for climate change efforts. Investigative reporting has revealed that Exxon and other oil companies have spent billions of dollars undermining climate science and fighting clean energy policies. The stall in climate action in the U.S. has been partly attributed to the financial influence of the fossil fuel industry on lawmakers, with their financial support swaying votes and policies in their favour.
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Fossil fuel money stalls climate action
Fossil fuel companies have been spending millions of dollars on political campaigns, with the majority of the money going to Republican candidates. In the 2024 election cycle, the sector contributed more than $25 million to the GOP and conservative groups, compared to $3.6 million to Democrats. This has had a significant impact on climate action, with policies favouring fossil fuels over renewable energy sources.
The fossil fuel industry's influence on politics is not a new phenomenon. Since the Citizens United ruling, outside spending from the industry has pumped unprecedented amounts of money into politics. This includes "dark money," which allows wealthy donors and corporations to remain anonymous while funding political activities. The industry has also spent billions of dollars on advocacy advertising and lobbying to shape public policy and spread misinformation about climate change.
As a result of this influx of cash, politicians have introduced and supported legislation that favours the fossil fuel industry. For example, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, expands fossil fuel drilling and exports. The bill was drafted with input from the American Petroleum Institute and other groups lobbying on behalf of oil companies. It eases the permitting process for extracting oil and mining critical minerals, prolonging the world's reliance on fossil fuels.
In addition to influencing legislation, fossil fuel money has also contributed to the denial of climate change and the spread of misinformation. For instance, former Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), who received $276,151 from the industry, denied the role of climate change in driving deadly wildfires in her state. She claimed, "I can't see the connection there with fossil fuels." This denialism is pervasive among politicians backed by the fossil fuel industry and has stalled efforts to address climate change through policy change.
Furthermore, President Trump's policy bill has slashed tax breaks for wind and solar power and electric cars while maintaining federal support for fossil fuels. This bill has been described as "historic legislation that will usher in a new era of energy dominance" by Mike Sommers, the chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute. Experts warn that rising temperatures pose acute dangers, but this bill dismantles critical actions taken by the federal government to combat climate change.
In conclusion, the fossil fuel industry's substantial financial influence on politics has significantly stalled climate action. Through campaign contributions, advocacy advertising, lobbying, and misinformation campaigns, the industry has shaped legislation and public opinion in favour of fossil fuels. As a result, efforts to transition to renewable energy sources and address the urgent threat of climate change have been hindered, posing severe risks to the planet and future generations.
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Fossil fuel companies fund misinformation
Fossil fuel companies have been accused of funding misinformation and engaging in a "dual deception" of the public. They have been found to deny the reality of climate change, obscure their responsibility, and obstruct climate action, while also deploying greenwashing tactics to portray themselves as environmentally sustainable. This has led to calls for the criminalization of misinformation and misrepresentation by the fossil fuel industry.
The fossil fuel industry has a history of spreading climate disinformation and blocking climate action. They have engaged in campaigns to sow doubt about climate science and spent billions of dollars on advocacy advertising, lobbying, and campaign contributions to influence politicians and policymakers. For example, Exxon and other oil companies have spent more than $5 billion undermining climate science and fighting clean energy policies. The industry has also funded academic research programs at leading institutions, with six fossil fuel companies, including BP, Chevron, Exxon, and Shell, spending an estimated $700 million between 2010 and 2020.
The fossil fuel industry exerts substantial financial power within the U.S. political system, with oil and gas companies donating millions of dollars to political campaigns. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the industry gave about $24 million to members of the U.S. House and Senate, with an additional $2 million to President-elect Donald Trump's campaign. Over the course of four presidential election cycles, outside spending from the fossil fuel industry rose from $2 million to over $150 million. This includes "dark money," where the source of the funds remains anonymous, which has been used to fund misinformation campaigns and influence lawmakers.
The leading campaign donors and lobbyists in the fossil fuel industry include Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, and Chevron. These companies have spent tens of millions of dollars on campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, with the money largely going to Republican politicians. For example, Mitt Romney has received more fossil fuel money than any other U.S. senator, with a total of $8.5 million received during his political career. However, Democrats have also received financial backing from the fossil fuel industry, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton receiving over $2 million and $1.5 million in campaign donations, respectively.
The influence of fossil fuel money in politics has had a significant impact on climate change and energy policy. Some researchers attribute the stagnation of climate action in the U.S. to the influence of the fossil fuel industry. The industry has successfully lobbied for bills that expand fossil fuel drilling and exports, such as the Lower Energy Costs Act, which was supported by nine Republicans and one Democrat in the House who received campaign donations from the oil and gas industry. This bill was opposed by environmental advocates who argued that it would prolong the world's reliance on fossil fuels and hinder the fight against climate change.
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Fossil fuel donations influence energy policy
Fossil fuel companies have a long history of donating money to political campaigns, and these donations have been shown to influence energy policy. The fossil fuel industry has spent millions of dollars on campaign contributions, with the majority of this money going to Republican candidates and conservative groups. For example, in the 2024 election cycle, the sector contributed more than $25 million to the GOP and conservative groups, compared to only $3.6 million to Democrats. This money is used to influence elections and shape public policy on energy issues.
One of the most prominent examples of fossil fuel influence in energy policy is the support for expanding fossil fuel drilling and exports. The Lower Energy Costs Act, a bill to expand fossil fuel drilling and exports, passed the House with the support of four Democrats and all but one Republican. The top recipients of oil and gas donations, nine Republicans and one Democrat, all voted for the bill. This bill eases the permitting process for companies extracting oil or mining critical minerals and maintains federal support for fossil fuels. It also slashes tax breaks for wind and solar power and electric cars, aiding the fossil fuel industry by increasing gasoline consumption and the use of gas and coal for electricity generation.
Another example of fossil fuel influence in energy policy is the stalling of climate action. Investigative reporting has shown that Exxon and other oil companies have spent more than $5 billion undermining climate science and fighting clean energy policies. This includes spending $2.9 billion on advocacy advertising and $1.3 billion on lobbying to shape public policy on energy issues over a 10-year period. As a result, climate action has been stalled for decades in the United States, with lawmakers influenced by fossil fuel donations reluctant to support clean energy initiatives.
In addition to direct campaign donations, fossil fuel companies also utilize "dark money" to influence energy policy. Dark money allows wealthy donors and corporations to anonymously fund political activities and issue campaigns that may not be directly related to an election. This type of funding has been used to spread misinformation and influence lawmakers, playing a growing role in funding misinformation about climate change and clean energy.
The influence of fossil fuel donations on energy policy has been acknowledged by experts and politicians. Richard Painter, a chief White House ethics lawyer, has stated that these contributions buy real influence and can shape legislation and regulation. The pattern of industries backing specific politicians in exchange for favorable policies or a lack of regulation is well-recognized. Despite this, there are efforts to increase transparency and track the finances of candidates and political groups to shed light on the influence of fossil fuel money in politics.
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Frequently asked questions
The fossil fuel industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on political donations and lobbying. In 2024, oil and gas companies spent nearly $60 million on lobbying Republican Party members. In the 2022 election cycle, the top 50 House recipients of oil and gas donations received $28 million, with $24.2 million going to Republicans. In total, the fossil fuel industry spent \$219 million to elect the new U.S. government in 2024.
Politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties have received donations from the fossil fuel industry. However, the majority of donations go to Republicans. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the top recipient, bringing in \$2.8 million in campaign cash from oil and gas interests. Mitt Romney has received more fossil fuel money than any other U.S. senator, with a career total of $8.5 million.
The fossil fuel industry influences politics through campaign contributions, lobbying, and "dark money". Campaign contributions are given directly to candidates or political action committees (PACs). Lobbying involves spending money to influence public policy. "Dark money" refers to undisclosed donations from wealthy individuals and corporations, which are used to fund misinformation and influence lawmakers without leaving a trace.
