Who Are Tewksbury Political Donors Giving To This Year?

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury's political donors have spread their money widely this year, with no candidate getting more than a few thousand dollars. According to data from the Federal Elections Commission, most of which dates to the end of June, Tewksbury residents gave over $3,000 to four different Democratic presidential candidates, as well as a variety of congressional campaigns and issues-based committees. 332 different people donated in that period, for a total of $40,525.98.

Among presidential candidates, president Donald Trump received the most money, $4,218.28. No single donor gave a massive fraction of the $40,000 total — the biggest donor was investor George Behrakis, who gave one $2,800 donation, the max amount, to former Vice President Joe Biden's Democratic campaign. No other donor gave more than $1,293.

Over $50,000 in donations to the Raytheon Company Political Action Committee are listed as coming from Tewksbury, but those refer to Raytheon employees working in Tewksbury.

Many of the actual Tewskbury resident donations came in small increments, often made through ActBlue, the nonprofit which many Democrats use to raise online donations. Over $16,000 in contributions were made through the service. ActBlue itemizes small donations, which is not required, so data on donations to Democrats is more complete than donations to Republicans or other organizations.

Including ActBlue donations, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders leads the Democratic field in total contributions from Wilmington, with $4,142.25, just under Trump's total. Sanders is followed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren with $3,558.20 and Biden with $3.533.

The top 8 presidential campaigns with Wilmington donors, by amount raised, were:

Donald Trump $4218.28
Bernie Sanders $4,142.25
Elizabeth Warren $3,558.20
Joe Biden $3,533
South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg $1,714.80
California Senator Kamala Harris $1,089
Former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke $348
Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton $262.60

Democratic Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan received $2,700 from four donors in the district, topping the list of non-presidential candidates. Republican California Congressman Devin Nunes got $1,000 from one resident. Various union and corporate political action committees also earned hundreds or thousands from Tewskbury residents.

Donors used ActBlue to spread donations widely. The top ActBlue donor, Carl Eisenberg, gave $660 to eight campaigns and organizations, including Need To Impeach, the pro-impeachment PAC founded by billionaire Tom Steyer, and Sara Gideon, a Maine Democrat running against Senator Susan Collins.

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.