Commerce Bank joins companies halting support for officials who opposed Biden transition

Commerce Bank will suspend all donations through its political action committee to candidates who opposed recognizing the Electoral College votes in the presidential election, the Kansas City-based company announced Monday.

The company said in a statement that it “condemns violence in any form and believes the actions witnessed this week are abhorrent, anti-democratic and entirely contrary to supporting goodwill for Americans and businesses.”

Popular Information first reported the move.

In the 2019-2020 cycle, the PAC donated to at least seven candidates who went on to oppose the election results in certain states, according to a Kansas City Business Journal analysis of data from OpenSecrets.org.

They include Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), as well as Reps. Ron Estes (R-Kan.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.). While the company has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, it favors GOP candidates by a margin of 6 to 1, according to Popular Information.

Marriott and Dow Chemical have made similar announcements regarding their donations.

“We have taken the destructive events at the Capitol to undermine a legitimate and fair election into consideration and will be pausing political giving from our Political Action Committee to those who voted against certification of the election,” the hotel chain said in a statement.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) made a similar announcement last week, two days after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.

“In light of this week’s violent, shocking assault on the United States Capitol, and the votes of some members of Congress to subvert the results of November’s election by challenging Electoral College results, BCSBA will suspend contributions to those lawmakers who voted to undermine our democracy,” BCBSA President and CEO Kim Keck said in a Friday statement.

Updated: 1:18 p.m.