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91% of 2024 CMC-Affiliated Political Donations Go to Democrats
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
CMC-affiliated donations over time.
According to the nonprofit OpenSecrets, over 91% of the $22,782 in political donations made by Claremont McKenna-affiliated individuals in 2024 went to Democrats. While CMC-affiliated donations have leaned consistently left since 2012, 2024 marks the starkest partisan divide in donations yet, with donations to Democrats exceeding donations to Republicans by over a factor of 10.
Although CMC itself does not make political contributions, the donations of individuals affiliated with the college can provide insight into the preferences of the CMC community. OpenSecrets defines affiliated individuals as an “organization's individual members or employees... and those individuals' immediate family members.”
The candidate receiving the most funds was Aditya Pai, a Democrat and CMC alumnus who was defeated in the primary for California’s 45th congressional district. Pai took in $7,725 from CMC-affiliated donors.
In the presidential election, CMC affiliates donated $6,306 to Kamala Harris and $1,800 to Donald Trump.
As recently as 2012, a majority of CMC-affiliated donations went to Republicans. Since then, donations in every election cycle have favored Democrats, though none as sharply as 2024. 91.3% of 2024 donations went to Democrats, an increase from 86.5% in 2016 and 88.3% in 2020.
The partisan divide in donations was even sharper for the other Claremont Colleges. 99.7% of the $69,595 donated by Pomona-affiliated individuals went to Democrats, along with 99.7% of the $9,923 donated by Scripps-affiliated donors and 99.4% of the $9,656 donated by Harvey Mudd-affiliated donors. Data for donors affiliated with Pitzer College were not available.
Interesting analysis of political donation trends and how data can reveal changing preferences within a college community. Clear reporting and well-researched articles help readers better understand complex topics. For writers looking to share their own research, ideas, or stories with a wider audience, Aussie Book Publishers House offers publishing support, including editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, and publishing services.
This report highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in political donations. Understanding where contributions go can help readers make informed decisions and encourage meaningful public discussion. Similarly, self publishing book publishers help authors share their perspectives, research, and ideas with a wider audience, making valuable information more accessible to readers.
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This is a well-sourced piece of data journalism that raises genuinely interesting questions about ideological consistency in elite liberal arts institutions. The historical comparison is the most thought-provoking part — the shift from a Republican majority in 2012 to a factor-of-ten Democratic advantage in 2024 maps closely onto broader national trends in education-level partisan affiliation. As a politics student, I used Reflective Writing Support resources while reflecting on academic echo chambers for a module journal, and this article provided exactly the kind of empirical evidence that made my personal reflection feel grounded and credible.
This is a well-sourced piece of data journalism that raises genuinely interesting questions about ideological consistency in elite liberal arts institutions, particularly one like CMC that markets itself on viewpoint diversity and intellectual independence. The historical comparison is the most thought-provoking part the shift from a Republican majority in 2012 to a factor-of-ten Democratic advantage in 2024 maps closely onto broader national trends in how education-level correlates with partisan affiliation. The 99.7% figures at Pomona and Scripps make CMC's 91.3% look almost moderate by comparison. As a politics and data journalism student currently preparing postgraduate applications with support from a Statement Of Purpose Writing Service, I have been researching how campus political homogeneity influences academic discourse and the range of…