Michael Bloomberg's team has trumpeted his role in helping Democrats win control of the House of Representatives last year. He poured tens of millions of dollars into 24 House races; Democrats won all but three of them.

But that doesn't tell the full story.

"Last year, there were seven swing districts in New York and Bloomberg supported Republicans in two of them," Democratic political consultant Monica Klein said.

Klein was a spokeswoman for Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley, who waged a spirited challenge against Long Island Congressman Pete King, a longtime Bloomberg ally.

"Pete King…has always been a standup guy," Bloomberg said in a 2011 news conference at City Hall.

Bloomberg backed King, hosting a fundraiser for him. King won by six points.

Bloomberg also backed another longtime Republican ally, Staten Island Congressman Dan Donovan, in his unsuccessful re-election bid against Democrat Max Rose.

But Rose holds no grudge; he told us that the Democratic Party should welcome all, no matter their past affiliations.

"I have no problem with people who are independent thinkers and who choose to support people who are at times across the aisle," Rose said.

As mayor, Bloomberg endorsed President George W. Bush for re-election over Democrat John Kerry.

"The president deserves our support," he said in 2004.

Bloomberg helped Republicans maintain their slim majority in the state Senate, where they successfully blocked progressive legislation for years.

And as Democrats seek to win control of the U.S. Senate, it's notable how many Republican senators Bloomberg has backed in recent years:

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey

Late-Arizona Sen. John McCain

Maine Sen. Susan Collins

Former Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk

Former Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, among others.

"Now he wants to come in and claim that he's this Democratic savior, but he was actually backing Republicans," Klein said. "He also did that when he was mayor."

In a statement, a Bloomberg spokesman said, "Mike's contributions to Democrats...overwhelmingly outstrip his support for the rare Republicans who put country over party and be on the right side of history. But as Mayor when New York City was pushing Republicans for things like 9/11 recovery support and sensible gun reforms, he sometimes supported people who helped New Yorkers even when he didn't share their values."

One of Bloomberg's new rivals, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, may have a particular beef with him: he backed then-Republican Sen. Scott Brown in their 2012 contest. But no matter: Warren prevailed by eight points.

Bloomberg may have taken side against Warren, but in the past he donated to California Sen. Kamala Harris and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, two other Democrats he is facing in the presidential primary.

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ADDITIONAL BLOOMBERG 2020 COVERAGE

Mike Bloomberg Is Worth About $54B. Is That Actually a Weakness For a Democrat Now?

Bloomberg Buys Over $30M in Campaign Ads

Bloomberg's Stop-and-Frisk Apology Is a Far Cry From His Defense When He Was Mayor

Bloomberg Apologized for Stop-and-Frisk at a Church Visit. What Does the Pastor Think About It?

Bloomberg Planning to Spend $100M on Anti-Trump Ads in Swing States

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