Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler (right) speaks with veteran NBA player Dwight Howard (left) during a WNBA game (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Atlanta businesswoman Kelly Loeffler will replace Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) when the longtime lawmaker retires at the end of the year, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp confirmed Wednesday.

In unveiling his choice for the vacant Senate seat, Kemp rebuffed President Donald Trump and some of his allies in Congress who pushed him to appoint Trump backer Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. Collins, who is set to defend Trump in impeachment hearings, hasn’t ruled out challenging for the seat in the 2020 special election.

Conservative commentators have criticized the choice, noting Loeffler has contributed to Democrats. But an OpenSecrets review of campaign contributions from Loeffler and her husband Jeffrey Sprecher shows a robust portfolio of Republican giving.

Of the $3.2 million the Georgia couple has given to political committees, less than 3 percent went to Democratic candidates and causes.

The most notable Democratic recipient is Hillary Clinton, whose 2008 presidential campaign received $2,000 from Sprecher in 2007. That’s the same year Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. contributed to Clinton’s campaign.

The top Democratic recipient is Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), who has represented his Atlanta-area district since 2003. The couple have contributed $10,200 to Scott’s campaigns.

The big dollars go to Republican candidates and groups. Loeffler has poured six figures into Republican party committees, including one that will support her in 2020. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has received $247,500 from Loeffler and her husband, will back Loeffler, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

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Republican leaders hope Loeffler’s appointment will help the party with suburban women, who are increasingly leaving Trump’s GOP and represent a key demographic in 2020. Loeffler is an executive at cryptocurrency investing firm Bakkt, a subsidiary of a larger company owned by Sprecher. She is also co-owner of the Women’s National Basketball Association team Atlanta Dream.

GOP operatives have expressed optimism that Loeffler could use her personal wealth to fund her special election battle in 2020. Politico reported that Loeffler will spend $20 million of her own money on the campaign. Democratic challengers haven’t exactly lined up to challenge for the seat. Matt Lieberman, son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), is the highest profile Democrat so far.

Anti-abortion groups have attacked Kemp’s choice, painting Loeffler as a pro-abortion rights individual over her donations to an area hospital — which has not performed elective abortions and hasn’t for at least a decade. During her announcement Wednesday, Loeffler said she would support legislation to limit abortions.

Loeffler will join Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in the upper chamber. She and her husband gave the Georgia lawmaker $60,100 between his campaign and leadership PAC.

She’ll also become colleagues with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). Loeffler and Sprecher gave a combined $1.5 million to pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future to boost his unsuccessful 2012 presidential bid.

Researcher Doug Weber contributed to this report.



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