Charles B. Johnson, a principal partner of the San Francisco Giants, has continued donating to extremist conservative and conspiracist politicians as the midterm elections approach.
Johnson, 89, has repeatedly broken his pledge to help “heal our nation and restore peace and respect in our democratic system” that came in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection.
As first reported by SF Gate, Johnson made two $100,000 donations to a Super PAC that supports Herschel Walker — a notable “Stop The Steal” conspiracist and extreme anti-abortionist. SF Gate also reported that Johnson donated the maximum $2,900 to incumbent Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who participated in the fake elector scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Walker, who reportedly paid for a girlfriend’s abortion, said he supports an abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest. He also has promoted several conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. The former Heisman Trophy winner is running in one of the most closely watched Senate races — against Democrat Raphael Warnock in Georgia.
Then there’s Sen. Johnson in Wisconsin. Johnson sent the maximum $2,900 to his Wisconsin campaign. The incumbent Republican has falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines have killed thousands of people and was prepared on Jan. 6 to hand vice president Mike Pence a fake slate of electors that would have overturned the will of the people.
According to FEC filings reviewed by KNBR, the Giants owner also supported the Honor Pennsylvania Super PAC and Congressional Leadership Fund. Honor Pennsylvania supported Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who conceded in his race to Mehmet Oz. The Congressional Leadership Fund is dedicated to electing GOP candidates to the House of Representatives.
To date in 2022, Johnson has donated $605,800 to the former and $755,000 to the latter. OpenSecrets reports Johnson spent $1,571,600 this election cycle — all on conservative spending groups.
Johnson and his family are the largest owners of the Giants franchise. Charles backed the 1993 purchase of the Giants led by Peter Magowan and Larry Baer. In 2020, his son Greg became chairman and control person.
His right-wing political donations aren’t new. He supported Tea Party politicians, controversial Mississippi candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith and QAnon sympathizer Lauren Boebert. He’s statistically one of the GOP’s most prolific donors. According to a 2020 ESPN and FiveThirtyEight report, Johnson donated significantly more money than his ownership counterparts in other major sports — and he did so mostly to conservative causes.
Shortly after the Jan. 6 capitol riot that a bipartisan committee connected at least seven deaths and hundreds of injuries to, Johnson pledged to denounce any candidates who assisted in any of the violence. He asked Rep. Boebart for a refund on his donation and said he’d follow the ongoing investigation closely and request refunds from any other individuals who engaged in similar behavior.
“As I stated last week,” Johnson said in the statement, “I am appalled by the violence that erupted at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the destructive efforts to interrupt the certification of the 2020 Presidential Election. My wife Ann and I reject and denounce any individuals, candidates or elected officials who do not honor our constitution or who espouse or assist in violence of any kind…And I pledge to do my part in helping to heal our nation and restore peace and respect in our democratic system.”
As an organization, the Giants pride themselves on holding progressive values. Manager Gabe Kapler and several players knelt during the 2020 season in support of the Black Lives Matter movement; Kapler also protested for gun control by not participating in the National Anthem in 2022.
Johnson’s fortunes have contradicted both his personal promise and the franchise’s public values. This midterm election cycle is no different.
