“The tech industry, which favored Democrats in the 2000 federal elections, is betting more campaign donations on Republicans this year,” Jim Hopkins reports for USA Today. “Bolstered by money from luminaries such as Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, tech has poured 55% of its $8.2 million in contributions into Republican coffers. That’s up from 47% in 2000, says the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan watchdog group. Among top givers, only doctors and other health professionals shifted more to the GOP.”
“Despite the shift, tech remains ‘on the fence’ in its party allegiance, says Larry Noble, the center’s executive director. Still, the trend is noteworthy, he says, because the tech industry is a growing political player whose allegiance is up for grabs over hot issues such as offshoring of jobs. Republicans are viewed as more pro-business on topics of special interest to the tech industry,” Hopkins reports.
“Tech ranks No. 13 among givers vs. No. 8 in 2000. Lawyers, who favor Democrats, are No. 1, as they were in 2000. But much of the money for the 2004 races won’t be raised until later this year, so tech’s financial muscle