Politics & Government
Jeff Bezos, Amazon Execs Donate To Sen. Cory Gardner's Campaign
Even though Gardner is not running until 2020, Jeff Bezos, his wife and other Amazon bigwigs are donating to the Colo. Senator's war chest.
WASHINGTON — Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife donated the maximum amounts to Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner’s campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. The Washington D.C. based power couple also donated the maximum amount to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch's "Hatch Election Committee," even though Hatch has announced he would retire.
According to federal 3rd Quarter filings, recorded with the FEC, Bezos and wife MacKenzie each maxed out donations of $5,400 to Gardner’s and Hatch's campaign committees.
Eight other Amazon executives also gave $5,400 to Gardner’s campaign committee in September, KDVR reported Tuesday. Gardner does not run for re-election until 2020.
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The Bezos couple donated to Hatch's campaign committee in August. Hatch declared in January, 2018 that he was retiring, making way for a U.S. Senate run in Utah for Republican Mitt Romney.
But those donations are a pittance compared to the amount Bezos and his family members have spent– about $10 million– on the Super PAC "With Honor" which focuses on electing veterans, both Democrat and Republican, to Congress.
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Amazon is expanding in Colorado with new hires of more than 900 expected at expanded fulfillment centers, and Denver is one of 20 cities chosen for a possible Amazon HQ2 site.
But it may be Bezos's interest in space exploration with his aerospace company Blue Origin that keeps his interest on Colorado and the new Spaceport Colorado, to be built in Adams County.
Gardner was instrumental in getting FAA approval of the Space Port license, along with 6th Congressional District Republican Congressman Mike Coffman and 7th District Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter.
Related: Denver Makes Amazon HQ2 Short List
Image: CEO And Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos Speaks At Air Force Association Air, Space And Cyber Conference via Getty Images
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