Philly sports team owners are sending big checks to Josh Shapiro. But he’s not the only one.
Phillies owner John Middleton has steered significant cash to candidates from both parties. Here’s who he and other owners have backed.
Their teams influence our mental health multiple times a week. But their money also has a big influence on Pennsylvania and national politics.
The individual owners of Philadelphia’s major sports teams have contributed nearly $2 million to political causes and candidates since 2021, an Inquirer analysis of campaign finance reports found.
That includes spending during the 2026 midterms, when the biggest giver of the 2025-26 cycle was Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton, who contributed more than $350,000.
The overwhelming majority of that — $275,000 — went to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat expected to easily win reelection Tuesday.
But Middleton doesn’t give just to Democrats.
He has also crossed the political aisle, steering nearly $70,000 to Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s joint fundraising committee in 2025 shortly after the senator won his first term. McCormick will not face reelection until 2030.
That bipartisan philosophy rang true for almost all the Philadelphia team owners.
Spokespersons for the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers governor Daniel Hilferty did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Union declined to comment.
Here is what to know.
More than $600,000 for Josh Shapiro
There seems to be one thing that many of the team owners can agree on — sending a check to Shapiro.
The governor, who is seeking a second term on Tuesday, has made his loyal fandom to Philly sports a huge part of his personal brand (he was rumored to have made a direct appeal to LeBron James to come to the Sixers).
And it seems he has a few fans among the owners.
Middleton has given $425,000, including contributions for Shapiro’s 2022 run.
The Union’s Jay Sugarman gave $10,000 to Shapiro in 2024.
And Jeffrey Lurie, owner of the Eagles, gave $200,000 to Shapiro four years ago and has not made that big of a contribution to state or federal candidates or causes since.
(Shapiro did get to speak at the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory parade in 2025 — which was probably better than a donation to this year’s campaign anyway.)
Lurie gave $15,000 in total between 2021 and 2023 to the NFL’s Gridiron PAC and $10,000 to the liberal-leaning Our Future United PAC.
With their lease at Lincoln Financial Field expiring in 2032, the Eagles have begun “exploratory research” on a new or renovated stadium. Lurie said all options and locations are on the table.
Shapiro, for his part, has reassured fans the team would be staying in Philly.
All levels of government on both sides of the aisle
State and local leaders, unsuccessful campaigns, and a former vice president — just a few of the recipients whom Philly sports team owners have given their money to over the last five years.
And both sides of the political aisle have benefited.
Middleton, for example, gave $200,000 in total to State Rep. Jared Solomon (D., Philadelphia) between 2023 and 2024 and $100,000 to Republican Bill McSwain’s unsuccessful bid for governor in 2022. On the federal level, he has given to a PAC supporting McCormick in 2025 and more than $23,000 total to Major League Baseball’s political action committee almost every year since 2021.
He has also brought his money to the local level, such as giving $50,000 to Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, a Democrat, in December.
Outside of Pennsylvania, Sugarman gave $5,000 to Rob Lubin, an unsuccessful 2024 Democratic House candidate from New York, and $5,000 to a real estate PAC.
David Blitzer, cofounder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Philadelphia 76ers, donated $32,000 in support of GOP Maryland Senate candidate Larry Hogan (also the state’s former governor) in 2024. He also donated $25,000 to a joint fundraising committee for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Blitzer, whose enterprise also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, gave $19,400 apiece to New Jersey Democratic U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross and Josh Gottheimer.
But his largest contribution since 2021 was $100,000 to the Democratic Majority for Israel political action committee.
Blitzer’s partner, Josh Harris, has given $300,000 to federal candidates since 2021, most of that in a $250,000 check to the Senate Leadership Fund PAC, which supports Republican candidates. He has also donated to several Democratic House and Senate candidates.
What about the Flyers?
Besides the individual sports team owners, Comcast owns the Philadelphia Flyers through Comcast Spectacor, a subsidiary.
Comcast’s political action committee has given more than $1.1 million to state politicians in Pennsylvania and PACs and more than $11 million to federal committees and candidates across the nation.
As is standard with many large corporations, Comcast’s spending was all over the map, contributing to various groups pertinent to company interests.
Comcast gives to candidates across the political spectrum who “appreciate the significance and complexity of the legislative and regulatory challenges confronting our business” and support favorable public policy, according to the Comcast Corp. Statement on Political and Trade Association Activity.
“This measured, broad, and bipartisan approach seeks consensus and agreement on specific issues across party lines, and results in support of candidates with whom we do not agree on all issues,” the statement reads.
Hilferty, the CEO of Comcast Spectacor and governor of the Flyers, has made $400,000 in contributions to state candidates since 2021, including to Shapiro in 2025, and more than $220,000 in donations to federal politicians and committees in both parties.
That includes a $50,000 donation this year to the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund.
