A pro-Republican lawmaker super PAC has become the beneficiary of the largest corporate donation this year among the mega-sized outside groups trying to influence the 2012 election.

Chevron Corp. gave a $2.5 million contribution earlier this month to the conservative Congressional Leadership Fund, which is dedicated to electing Republicans to Congress. Chevron’s gift accounted for most of the money ($3.1 million) raised by the Congressional Leadership Fund during the first half of the month (October 1-17).

Another noteworthy fact about the contribution: It may be the largest by a publicly traded company since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision in 2010, according to the Public Campaign Action Fund.

Citizens United freed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on campaigns after longstanding federal limits were thrown out by the court.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Daily Disclosure: Chevron gives $2.5 million to conservative super PAC (by Rachael Marcus, Center for Public Integrity)

Chevron gives $2.5M to super-PAC backing House Republicans (by Ben Geman, The Hill)

The Congressional Leadership Fund: List of Contributions (U.S. Federal Election Commission)

The Congressional Leadership Fund: Schedule E Tax Filing (pdf)

PAC profile: Congressional Leadership Fund (by Reity O'Brien, Center for Public Integrity)

Oil and Gas Industry Gears Up to Help Friendly Candidates (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Senate Retains $2 Billion in Annual Tax Breaks for Big 5 Oil Companies (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)