You’ve probably never thought about it, but companies, just like people, tend to lean one way or the other. This got me thinking what are the most conservative companies in the world?
Conservative companies are very complicated, just like conservative countries are. Just because the company itself promotes and supports conservative and Republican ideals, doesn’t mean that its staff do.
As a general rule, people don’t like it when companies get political. For those who are more conservative, liberals tend to avoid (as much as possible) with the same being said for the opposite.
15. Hearst Communications
I thought I’d start this off with a company you probably haven’t thought about. This is also a very dicey one, given the company’s industry. Hearst is a media conglomerate, owning several newspapers and magazines.
The company was founded by William Randolph Hearst- the man who invented yellow journalism. Hearst was a career Democrat, when the Democrats were the conservative party in the US.
Due to the nature of Hearst’s business, the company is both left and right-leaning. The majority of Hearst’s newspapers have slight left-leaning tendencies, although its magazines are overwhelmingly conservative!
Hearst is ran by Hearst’s grandson, William Randolph Hearst III. Hearst, just as with his grandfather is very conservative. In almost every election, Hearst and his company donate millions to Republican candidates!
14. News Corp
Hearst’s largest competitor is similarly conservative. If you follow conservative news, you are probably quite familiar with News Corp, or at least its Fox News subsidiary, The Times newspaper and The Wall Street Journal.
News Corp is owned by the Murdoch family, most notably Sir Rupert Murdoch, known for being one of the world’s most famous celebrity conservatives. Although, his children are similarly conservative.
Murdoch uses his influence over countless cable news channels and newspapers in several countries to promote conservative ideals. In many recent elections, through News Corp, Murdoch has donated to several Republican candidates.
13. Home Depot
Home Depot is one of the few remaining conservative stores. When most stores have supported Democratic candidates, Home Depot has doubled down on supporting Republican candidiates.
Home Depot is known for being the largest home improvement retailer in the US. Although it doesn’t promote conservative ideals from a corporate standpoint like Hearst and News Corp, it does do it another way.
Instead, Home Depot uses the money it generates to donate to Republican (and occasionally Democrat) candidates. In 2020, Home Depot donated $200,000 to Republican candidates, having done so since 2004.
12. Exxon
Exxon is perhaps best known for being one of the largest oil and natural gas companies on the planet. Since the 1980’s, Exxon, alongside several other oil companies, has slowly been donating more and more to Republican candidates.
In 1911, Standard Oil was broken up, with Exxon being one of the companies that rose from its ashes. Since the 1980’s, Democratic candidates have been trying to levy new taxes on the industry.
As a result, Exxon and other oil companies have supported Republican candidates, donating millions in recent years. Most of these oil companies have since stopped doing that, in favor of Democrats, but not Exxon!
11. Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is known for being one of the US’s largest outdoor equipment retailers. Their two most sold products are firearms and gun safes, followed behind knives and other hunting equipment.
Due to this, Bass Pro Shops is pro-Second Amendment. In recent years, Bass Pro Shop has formed partnerships alongside conservative organizations such as the NRA to promote the Second Amendment as well as other causes.
Bass Pro Shops is one of the largest, privately-owned conservative companies in the world. It is owned by Johnny Morris, who is a lifelong Republican and devout Christian, raising his kids the same.
During the 2020 Presidential Election, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops have donated almost $20,000 to various Republican candidates, for both presidency and the Senate/House of Representatives!
10. Forbes
Many people know Forbes as one of the largest business magazines on the planet. However, Forbes also publishes other publications. With it being mostly business-oriented, it is no surprise that the magazine is very conservative.
Forbes was founded by B.C. Forbes, before being passed down to his son, and now, his grandson. His grandson, Steve Forbes, in particular is extremely conservative, using his ownership of Forbes to promote this.
Steve Forbes himself, currently the Editor-in-Chief of Forbes, has ran for Republican Party nomination two occasions, once in 1996, and the other in 2000. Here, he campaigned for downsizing the federal government among others.
Since his failed attempts, Forbes has continued to be a conservative, most famous for his rout against gay conservatives. Forbes has frequently pushed the conservative (and capitalist) agenda through his publications.
9. Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch is the largest beverage company on the planet. It is most famous for its alcoholic beverages, most famously its Budweiser brand of beer, among several others.
One of the largest shareholders of Anheuser-Busch is the Anheuser Family. As with many other rich German families, they are extremely private, with their role in politics being limited, although it is known they are conservative.
Anheuser-Busch executives and shareholders donated over $60,000 to Republican and conservative campaigns. They have also organized several PACs to donate money to Republican campaigns as wells.
8. Sheetz
Sheetz is known for being the largest privately-owned convenience store and coffee shop chains in the country! The company is owned and operated by the Sheetz Family, a notoriously private family.
The family is quite famous for supporting the Republicans for a long time. Most members of the family are registered Republicans. In the past, Sheetz has made several attempts to serve in office as a Republican.
Following this, the Sheetz family, using money generated by Sheetz chains across the country has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Republicans. In 2020, Sheetz donated $25,000 to various Republican candidates.
7. Koch Industries
Koch Industries is the second largest privately-owned company in the United States. It is ran by the notoriously conservative Koch Brothers, who use their company’s influence and wealth to promote conservative policies.
Officially, Koch Industries is a chemical manufacturing company. However, as with most other companies is involved in the finance industry (among others).
Koch Industries is proud of the fact that it has never supported a Democrat for office. Instead, the company funds the Super PAC KochPAC, which has exclusively funded Republican and conservative candidates.
In total, for the 2020 Presidential Election alone, Koch Industries, through KochPAC, has donated over $150,000 to various Republican campaigns, not donating to a single Democrat campaign. This has been the case since the 1960’s.
6. Domino’s
It was once said that America runs on pizza. In fact, this is what Domino’s once said. America is one of the more conservative countries in the world, so it’s no surprise that Domino’s is one of the most conservative companies!
Domino’s has repeatedly railed against sugar and/or fat taxes on food (as has been done in other countries such as the UK) from being implemented in the US, both on federal and state levels (because it is a breach of civil liberties!)
On top of this, Domino’s executives and owners (most notably the Monaghan Family) have donated in excess of $200,000 to Republican candidates for the 2020 Presidential Election alone! And this is a recurring theme as well!
5. Trump Organization
It is perhaps no surprise that President Trump’s company is considered to be one of the most conservative companies in the world! Since 2016, The Trump Organization has become increasingly more political!
The Trump Organization is best known for its hand in the New York (and global!) real estate business. However, the company has also had its hands in the casino, entertainment and travel industries in the past.
In 2016, using money generated by The Trump Organization, Donald Trump and his family were able to finance Trump’s presidential campaign. This has also continued during the 2020 presidential election too!
4. Remington
Conservatives are known for their gun rights advocacy. It seems only fitting that one of the largest firearms manufacturers in the United States is one of the most conservative companies, not only in the US, but also the world!
Remington is known for producing the most amount of sporting firearms in the world. It is most famous for its Remington line of hunting and self-defense shotguns, although its sporting rifles are also plenty.
As such, it’s not surprising that Remington is huge supporter of the Second Amendment. They support organizations like the NRA. In recent elections, Remington has almost solely donated to Republican candidates too!
3. Flowers Foods
Flowers Foods is perhaps one of the least well known conservative companies in the world. However, for those who do know the company, they are well aware of its conservative support!
Flowers Foods is well known for being the parent company to several packed bakery food companies. The company is well known for its array of cakes, buns, bread, rolls and pastries among others.
During the 2020 Presidential Election Flowers Foods executives donated over $15,000 to an array of Republican candidates. This follows a long established trend with the company, beginning in the 1980s
2. Publix
Publix is known for being one of the world’s largest privately-owned supermarkets. Surprisingly, where most other supermarkets have become more liberal, Publix has doubled down, becoming more conservative, not less.
Where most other supermarkets have doubled down on “No gun” policies, Publix has publicly stated it doesn’t really mind legal conceal and carry in their stores, as long as it is for self-defense reasons only.
The Jenkins and Barnett families (who own the largest shares in Publix) are both very private families. However, both are said to be very conservative fiscally, although are very liberal socially, donating millions every year.
In recent years, Publix has made headlines for its record donations to Republican campaigns. During the 2020 Presidential Campaign, Publix executives and shareholders contributed over $50,000 to Republican candidates.
1. Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby is most commonly known for being the largest provider of arts and crafts supplies in the United States. However, in conservative circles, it is known for being one of the most conservative companies in the world!
The company was founded by David Green, who still retains control of the company to this day. Green, as with many conservatives, is a devout Christian, refusing to allow his stores to be open on a Sunday.
Following his Christian beliefs, Green has also made controversial statements about homosexuals. These controversial statements have naturally been reported by the media, resulting in several boycotts.
Green also uses Hobby Lobby to donate to several Republican Campaigns. In the past, the Green Family has donated several hundred thousand dollars to Republican campaigns, including $10,000 during the 2020 Presidential Election.
Which are your favorite conservative companies? Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Scott Beale via Flickr.
Thank you for the list of Conservative companies! Please add US clothing companies (if there are any) and other types of businesses.