HALLOWEEN
Trick-or-Treat: Candy Companies’ Political Donations May Influence Your Halloween Picks
Unwrapping Politics
October is the season of pumpkins, goblins, and mountains of sweet treats. As many of us will soon decide which candies to stock up on for trick-or-treaters, a deeper look into the political spending of popular candy companies may add an additional consideration for this choice.
I’m someone who thinks participatory politics is one of the greatest accomplishments of humanity. In turn, I like to consider the political giving actions of the companies I decide to purchase things from. A few years ago I wrote about how to sort this out for the 4th of July, and today I’m digging into Halloween candy — another one of my favorite holidays.
To understand the political spending patterns of different candy companies, I analyzed the donations made by these companies through their PACS, individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals’ immediate family members in the 2022 midterm election cycle, the most recent one for which we have FEC data at OpenSecrets.org.
To determine which candy companies to examine I started with this list of the most popular candies by state. Not surprisingly, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups — made by Hershey’s — are the favorites for most states. Snickers, M&Ms, Skittles, Starburst, Milky Way, Butterfinger, Kit Kat, and even Hot Tamales are other state favorites. I also included a set of companies who make candy and engage in political giving in the US, but are lesser known for their Halloween offerings.
Similar to other types of foods in the US, while we have a wide variety of candies and chocolates, just a few big companies own each of these brands. Brands don’t do political donations, companies do, so when looking at the breakdowns by company there are a lot brands within each umbrella. The big players are Hershey’s (Reese’s, Kisses), Mars (M&Ms, Snickers, Twix, Skittles, Milky Way, Dove, Starburst), and Nestle (Butterfinger, Crunch) — Kit Kats are interesting in that around the world they are owned and distributed by Nestle, but in the US Hershey has the rights to these twin chocolate wafer delights.
Those not known for their presence during Halloween include Mondelez International (Toblerone, Cadbury, Milka), Jelly Belly — Ronald Reagan’s favorite treat — , Ferrero Group (Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Crunch), and Enstrom Candies (toffees, almond candies). Tootsie Rolls are a candy I get excited for, but Tootsie Roll Industries did not participate in political giving in 2022, so they are absent in this analysis.
More than any individual company, the National Confectioners Association PAC supported by money from multiple candy and chocolate company was the biggest candy donor of the 2022 cycle. These companies appeared to not be largely invested in the outcomes of the 2022 midterms, as total candy sales were over $42 billion in 2022 and political giving was a tiny sprinkle in comparison.
The real treat lies in dissecting the political leanings of these companies. If you’re looking to align your candy choices with Democratic support this October, consider picking up Snickers, a favorite of Joe Biden. Mars Inc directed nearly 96% of its political contributions to Democrats, with Senator Raphael Warnock being the top beneficiary. Other candy options with Democratic-leaning donations are those made by Mondelez International, such as Sour Patch Kids or Swedish Fish. In 2022, they allocated two-thirds of their political donations to Democrats, with Senator Warnock once again being the primary recipient.
Want to showcase your bipartisan or moderate inclinations? Consider Hershey’s treats like Almond Joy, PayDay, or Whatchamacallit. Hershey’s political donations are balanced, similar to how American voters have decided to staff the Congress. They allocated approximately $1,500 to their leading recipients, including Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and John Boozeman (R-AR). On the Democratic side, top recipients were Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) — unsurprising given Hershey’s Pennsylvania headquarters. Additional, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was also among the top beneficiaries.
If you prefer candies from brands that predominantly support Republican candidates for Halloween, consider options from Ferrero, Jelly Belly, and Enstrom. These companies notably contributed between 90% and 100% of their political donations to Republican candidates. Their support extended to both individual Republican candidates and broader Republican State and National Committees. Notably, Enstrom focused its contributions locally, with a significant portion going to home state, Republican candidate Lauren Boebert.
In the end, whether you’re reaching for a candy bar or casting a ballot, being informed is neat way to live. While the political affiliations of your favorite candy brands might not be the deciding factor in your Halloween preparations, considering the details offers a glimpse into the broader interplay between businesses, politics, and consumer choices. In many ways, every purchase, like every vote, is a reflection of our values and beliefs.
So, if you’re like me this Halloween, take a moment to think about how and who you really want to indulge for the holiday.
