Since Democrats swept into congressional power in the 2006 midterm elections, many industries — including some that traditionally back Republicans — have either begun to contribute to both parties equally or favor Democrats outright.

The chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, however, never had to make any shift. Jamie Dimon happens to be a long-time Democratic donor.

Dimon and his wife, Judy, have donated more than a half-million dollars to Democratic candidates and committees since 1989, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of his donations. That is nearly 12 times what the couple has given the GOP.

Dimon seems to exert considerable influence within Democratic circles at a time when JPMorgan and other banks still owe the federal government billions of dollars after last year’s bailouts.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was scheduled to attend JPMorgan board meeting this week. He declined to attend after the New York Times profiled Dimon and mentioned the invitation prominently.

According to the article, Dimon enjoys deep connections with Emanuel and President Barack Obama. Dimon was an executive at Bank One — which later became part of JPMorgan — at the same time that Emanuel was representing a nearby district in Congress, and the president was serving Illinois in the U.S. Senate. Dimon has donated $6,000 to Emanuel over time, including $4,000 for his first House race in 2002. He gave Obama $2,000 during his 2004 Senate campaign, but did not contribute to his presidential run.

Instead, Dimon provided significant contributions to the other side of the epic 2008 Democratic primary battle.

He gave then-Sen. Hillary Clinton $2,300 in 2007, the maximum contribution allowed under Federal Election Commission rules. Dimon and his wife each contributed $2,100 to Clinton’s 2006 Senate re-election campaign and $2,000 during her 2000 Senate bid. The Dimons each gave Bill Clinton $1,000 during the 1996 cycle.

The Dimons do not only support the Clintons. The couple has lavished a combined $580,600 on Democrats since the 1990 cycle. They have provided each recent Democratic presidential candidate and major party figure with some cash.

Vice President Joseph Biden ($2,000), Sen. Chris Dodd ($5,300), Sen. Tom Carper ($8,000), Sen. Charles Schumer ($12,000) and Rep. Charles Rangel ($4,500) have all received Dimon dollars. Former Vice President Al Gore received $4,000 from the Dimons in 1999. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) has hauled in $7,000 from them over his career. Former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), who now operates his own lobby shop, received $7,000 from the Dimons between 1989 and 2005.

The couple contributed $3,000 to ex-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle‘s campaigns, as well. Daschle is now a senior advisor at Alston & Bird.

The Dimons have also been somewhat generous to politicians on the other side of the aisle, contributing $48,800 to Republicans.

Aside from giving former President George W. Bush a combined $4,000 during his two presidential campaigns, they have given each of the following Republicans $2,000: House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Mel Martinez, Sen. Richard Shelby and Sen. John Cornyn, among others.

Despite the campaign contributions to the GOP, Dimon is the exception rather than the rule among his colleagues. Most major banks decidedly favor Republicans with their political spending. Since 1989, commercial banks‘ political action committees and employees have donated $216 million to federal candidates, and 59 percent of that sum has gone to Republicans.

Last election cycle, JPMorgan — No. 28 on the top 100 list of all-time political spenders — led the banking industry’s giving, pouring $2.9 million into Democratic coffers and $1.8 million into GOP war chests. The 2000 cycle was the last time JPMorgan has favored Republicans. Meanwhile, Bank of America, another CRP “Heavy Hitter,” usually gives more money to Republicans. Over the past two decades, 53 percent of the corporation’s cash has gone to the GOP.

Banks’ contributions may be under special scrutiny right now because of the increasing level of government involvement in the financial sector amid the nation’s economic crisis.

JPMorgan’s record on economic issues so far is mixed: the bank lost when Congress approved legislation easing terms on credit-card owners, but succeeded when the Senate voted down a bill allowing bankruptcy judges to modify foreclosures. Dimon opposes the White House’s proposals to regulate the derivatives market.

To expand JPMorgan‘s influence on public policy, Dimon has invested in K Street. The company has already spent $1.3 million on lobbying this year, after shelling out $5.4 million in 2008.



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