From J.J. Abrams to Sarah Jessica Parker to Steven Spielberg, Hollywood bet big on Beto O’Rourke.
The Democratic Senate candidate mounted an uphill, ultimately losing fight against incumbent Republican Ted Cruz. Many O’Rourke supporters were hoping for a Hollywood ending in which a left-leaning underdog would oust deeply conservative Cruz from traditionally red Texas. But Cruz held on to win a second term.
O’Rourke received a total of $811,632 from the entertainment industry, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, which includes film, TV and music industry donations under the banner of entertainment.
The figures are taken from databases uploaded by the Federal Election Commission at the start of every month. Those databases are as current as the FEC’s uploads, and the numbers will likely increase as more numbers roll in.
TheWrap also sifted through 2018 Federal Election Commission filings as well as the Campaign Finance Institute’s FollowtheMoney.org to see which specific Hollywood donors coughed up maximum donations for Beto.
Currently, federal campaign finance law allows a donor to contribute up to $5,400 to a candidate’s campaign committee — $2,700 in the primary, and another $2,700 in the general election.
Connie Britton, Tate Donovan and “Star Wars” director Rian Johnson all gave Beto the maximum possible donation of $5,400 each.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Jimmy Kimmel, Rosie O’Donnell, Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and Rob Reiner all gave $2,700.
Other Hollywood donors include “Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman, CEO of Entertainment Studios Byron Allen, UTA co-president David Kramer, Carsey Marcey, who produced the original “Roseanne,” CAA Managing Partner Bryan Lourd, “The McCarthys” creator Brian Gallivan and Disney studio head Alan Horn, who all gave $2,700. CAA Managing Partner Kevin Huvane donated $3,700.
Chelsea Handler shelled out $2,500, Jamie Lee Curtis gave $2,000, and Barbra Streisand, who just came out with a new anti-Trump album, gave $1,250. Bill Nye donated $900.