Jeb Bush
Like his brother, Jeb has a deep roster of oil and gas donors. That includes Richard Kinder, Trevor Rees Jones, Ray Hunt and T. Boone Pickens.
Lifting regulation
Although he opposed oil drilling near Florida’s coasts as the state’s governor, Bush is now a strong advocate for lifting bans on drilling offshore and on federally protected land.
Donors who could benefit
- Trevor Rees Jones
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
- Ray Hunt
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
- Richard Kinder
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
Keystone XL pipeline
Bush has urged approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and has questioned why the U.S. State Department has a hand in approving it at all.
Donors who could benefit
- Trevor Rees Jones
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
- Ray Hunt
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
- Richard Kinder
- Oil & gas magnate
- $2 million donated to Jeb Bush this cycle
Ben Carson
Although iconic energy magnate (and billionaire) T. Boone Pickens originally backed Jeb Bush, he lent his support to Carson in fall 2015. Pickens offered a donation along with connections to other donors within his own network.
Lifting regulation
Carson hasn’t gotten into specifics of energy policy in the way Cruz or Bush have, but he is a climate change skeptic, which influences his support for pro-business policy on oil and gas.
Donors who could benefit
- T. Boone Pickens
- Oil & gas magnate
Keystone XL pipeline
Carson has called the pipeline “perfectly safe” and encouraged federal approval.
Donors who could benefit
- T. Boone Pickens
- Oil & gas magnate
Ted Cruz
Cruz drew $20 million in early donations from three oil and gas donors, Toby Neugebauer and Farris and Dan Wilks.
Lifting regulation
Cruz strongly opposes virtually all restrictions on oil refinery and distribution. The senator wants to end the ban on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and opposes cap-and-trade legislation.
Donors who could benefit
- Toby Neugebauer
- Energy investor
- $10 million donated to Ted Cruz this cycle
- Dan and Farris Wilks
- Oil fracking magnate
- $15 million donated to Ted Cruz this cycle
- Bob McNair
- Businessman
- $500,000 donated to Ted Cruz this cycle
Keystone XL pipeline
The senator has called approval for Keystone XL, which would allow carry oil to refineries in Texas and Illinois, a “no-brainer.”
Donors who could benefit
- Toby Neugebauer
- Energy investor
- $10 million donated to Ted Cruz this cycle
- Dan and Farris Wilks
- Oil fracking magnate
- $15 million donated to Ted Cruz this cycle
- Bob McNair
- Businessman
- $500,000 donated to Ted Cruz this cycle