Person

Adam J. Lewis

Occupation:

Executive Film Producer

Philanthropist

Democratic Party Donor

Father:

Peter B. Lewis

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Adam J. Lewis is the son of billionaire Peter B. Lewis, the former chairman of Progressive Insurance and an early partner in the liberal donor collective Democracy Alliance, who died in 2013. Adam Lewis is a board member of Spear Point Energy, a solar energy company. 1 Lewis has used his family’s wealth to back environmentalist groups and left-wing political candidates.

Environmentalist Projects

The Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) counts Lewis as one of its supporters. 2 PCAP states that there needs to be an “economic transformation” to address issues such as global warming. 3 PCAP has advocated for Democrats to embrace the Green New Deal,4 an environmentalist-left policy package characterized as a “radical, top-down, socialist makeover of the entire U.S. economy”5 and estimated to cost tens of trillions of dollars. 6

Lewis is the executive producer of the environmentalist film 11th Hour. 7 The film claims that “industrial civilization” has brought the global environment to the brink of destruction and that humans must dramatically change their way of life to stop global warming. 8 11th Hour is narrated by celebrity environmental activist and Natural Resources Defense Council trustee Leonardo DiCaprio.

Political Contributions

Lewis is a large political donor, pouring nearly $800,000 into liberal campaigns between 2004 and 2018 according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

2018 Election

During the 2018 midterm election cycle Lewis contributed the federal maximum of $2700 to Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Lisa Brown (D-WA), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA), and Karl Hanlon (D-CO). 9

Lewis also made major contributions to PACs. The largest contribution was to the LCV Fund, the League of Conservation Voter PAC, at $300,000. FEC records show the LCV Fund spent over $27,000,000 to oppose Republican candidates in 2018. Lewis donated $65,900 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) during the 2018 cycle. The Fearless Joint Victory Fund, affiliated with the Colorado Democratic Party, received $33,900 from Lewis. The House Majority PAC, which has the expressed goal of keeping the House in Democratic control, got $7,000 from Lewis. 10 Other left-of-center PACs supported by Lewis were Purpose PAC, Kaine Victory Fund, and America Works Federal PAC. 11

Additionally, he donated $10,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party, $10,000 to the Ohio Grassroots Victory Fund, $10,000 to the Colorado Democratic Party, and $2,200 to the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Elections from 2004 to 2016

In elections between 2004 and 2016, Lewis donated to Senators Al Franken (D-MN), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Clair McCaskill (D-MO), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Udall (D-CO), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). He also supported losing senate candidates Ted Strickland (D-OH) and Jason Kander (D-MO). He also contributed $4,200 to then-Senator Hillary Clinton in 2004. 12

He previously donated thousands to the congressional campaigns of Salvatore Pace (D-CO), Andrew Romanoff (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Gail Schwartz (D-CO), Scott Kleeb (D-NE), Rep. Joe Miklosi (D-CO), Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Ethan Berkowitz (D-AK), Irv Halter (D-CO), Michael Eggman (D-CA), and Dan Baer (D-CO). 13

PACs and other committees have also seen large contributions from Lewis dating back years. Lewis gave the LCV Victory Fund (formerly the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund) $50,000 in 2016 and $5,000 in each of 2006, 2008, and 2009. Lewis provided the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee with $6,000 in 2012 and $30,000 in 2016. Lewis donated $10,000 to “Women on the Road to the Senate: 12 and Counting – Denver,” a joint fundraising committee of Mazie Hirono (D-HI). 14 FEC records show the committee sent thousands to the campaigns of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). He also donated $15,000 to Obama’s joint fundraising committee the Obama Victory Fund 2012. In 2005, Lewis gave $5,000 to the Hill PAC, which was the Democratic leadership PAC.

Lewis has financially supported many state Democratic parties including the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, New Jersey Democratic State Committee, Iowa Democratic Party, Nevada State Democratic Party, Democratic Executive Committee of Florida, and the New Hampshire Democratic Party. The largest state party donation was to the New York State Democratic Party of $10,000 in 2012.

References

  1. “Our Team.” Spear Point Energy. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.spearpointenergy.com/our-team/.
  2. “Our Team.” Spear Point Energy. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.spearpointenergy.com/our-team/.
  3. “Introduction to PCAP.” Presidential Climate Action Project. Accessed April 12, 2019. http://pcap2016.org/about/.
  4. Becker, William S. “Vote on the Green New Deal? Game On!” Presidential Climate Action Project. February 13, 2019. Accessed April 12, 2019. http://pcap2016.org/vote-on-the-green-new-deal-game-on/.
  5. McConnell, Mitch. Twitter Post. March 25, 2019, 5:18 P.M. Accessed March 29, 2019. https://twitter.com/senatemajldr/status/1110289975386492929
  6. Daly, Matthew, “Senate Shuns Green New Deal amid Claims of Bad Faith,” Fox35 Orlando. March 26, 2019. Accessed March 29, 2019. http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/politics/mcconnell-to-put-green-new-deal-to-vote-forcing-democrats-to-go-on-record
  7. “Our Team.” Spear Point Energy. Accessed April 11, 2019. https://www.spearpointenergy.com/our-team/.
  8. “About the 11th Hour Film.” 11th Hour Film. Accessed April 12, 2019. http://11thhourfilm.com/.
  9. “Individual Contributions | Adam Lewis | Colorado | 2017-2018.” FEC.gov. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2018&contributor_name=Adam+Lewis&min_date=01/01/2017&max_date=12/31/2018&contributor_state=CO.
  10. “Our Story.” House Majority PAC. Accessed April 11, 2019. http://www.thehousemajoritypac.com/about-us/our-story.
  11. “Individual Contributions | Adam Lewis | Colorado | 2017-2018.” FEC.gov. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?two_year_transaction_period=2018&contributor_name=Adam+Lewis&min_date=01/01/2017&max_date=12/31/2018&contributor_state=CO.
  12. “Donors | Adam J. Lewis.” OpenSecrets. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=adam+j+lewis&type=donors.
  13. “Donors | Adam J. Lewis.” OpenSecrets. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?q=adam+j+lewis&type=donors.
  14. “Women on the Road to the Senate: 12 and Counting – Denver.” FEC. Accessed April 11, 2019. http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00511626.
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