Paul Easter made the largest political donation in the state during the week ending April 15, giving $1,000 to the Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions on April 12, according to Iowa.gov.
More than $22 million was raised for the Iowa Senate race in 2022. This was split fairly evenly between the Republican and Democrat parties.
What’s known as “dark money,” which comes from political non-profits and shell corporations, has greatly increased expenditures and donations in recent elections to record-breaking highs.
Donations made to political groups or candidates must be disclosed under state law for greater transparency in elections.
Disclosures of political contributions can be unclear or murky due to gaps in information and misreporting.
Top Political Contributions in Iowa for week ending April 15
| Committee | Contributor | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Paul Easter | $1,000 | 4/12/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Scott Zurborg | $500 | 4/10/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | John Ruan, Iv | $500 | 4/11/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Ken Easter | $500 | 4/12/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Martha Easter Wells | $500 | 4/12/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Chad Frazell | $462 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Brian Johnson | $462 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Christopher Boling | $462 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Samuel James | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Bradley Haga | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kendra Meyer | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jaime Robles | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Sherri Hart | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Timothy Ahrendsen | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jon Hostasa | $346 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Stephen P. Jr. Bramlage | $300 | 4/14/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | James Johnson | $250 | 4/11/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Timothy Heldt | $250 | 4/13/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Tim Wolf | $250 | 4/12/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Sharon Peters | $250 | 4/11/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Art Sebastian | $231 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Paul Suarez | $231 | 4/14/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Joseph Carr | $200 | 4/11/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Scott Fleming | $173 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Scott Faber | $173 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | David Johnson | $173 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Scott Cook | $173 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Robert Jones | $150 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kurt Evans | $138 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Christopher Stewart | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Leanne Krell | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Daniel Gross | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kelly Bucher | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Ryan Fye | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Eric Long | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Phillip Wilhelm | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Josh Gondek | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jeffrey Fliger | $115 | 4/14/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | John Franken | $100 | 4/11/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | William Jay Ramsey | $100 | 4/15/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Pat Marget | $100 | 4/10/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | William Ramsey | $100 | 4/9/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Adrian Butler | $96 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | William Howe | $92 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Nancy Doran | $92 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Daniel Hage | $92 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Amy Costello | $90 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Dana Sump | $90 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | James Skloda | $90 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Brian Petrak | $90 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | David Buttler | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Steven Robins | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Anne Alabaugh | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Erin Butler | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Robert Hill | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Lisa Recker | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Michael Tartar | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kimberly Lippert | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | David Cassini | $69 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Larry Meeker | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Travis Trumper | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jennifer Meyer | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kip Blake | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Dave Smith | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Daniel Martens | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Clinton Sherwood | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Mark Hawbaker | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Carl Hotchkiss | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kelli Schmidt | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Edward Detwiler | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Eric Biederman | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Amanda Jansen | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Edward Klingensmith | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Nicky Lambert | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Gordon Clark | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Kristine Strum | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Loy Miller | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Todd Lust | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jami Parrish | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Jese Riddle | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Steven Smith | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Asha Shekar | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Adam Huston | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Bruce Winkelman | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Joe Kinser | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Michael Greubel | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Bryan Meints | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Patrick Bissell | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Eric Larsen | $58 | 4/14/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | Paul Woodard | $50 | 4/9/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | Ray Blase | $50 | 4/9/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | Ray Blase | $50 | 4/15/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Lorie Teut | $48 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Michael Siedsma | $46 | 4/14/2023 |
| Casey’s, PAC | Charles Dilbeck | $46 | 4/14/2023 |
| Cosmetology Arts and Sciences Political Action Committee | Kevin and Susan Rentz | $40 | 4/12/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Terri Osby | $25 | 4/14/2023 |
| Bankers Unite in Legislative Decisions | Nicholas Podhajsky | $25 | 4/11/2023 |
| Ankeny Area Democrats | Benjamin Blakely | $25 | 4/9/2023 |
