Ken Griffin, founder of Citadel and Citadel Securities and one of the most influential political donors in US markets, has made his first federal contribution of the 2026 election cycle with a $5 million donation to a Republican-aligned super PAC.
Griffin donated the sum on May 1 to the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), the main super PAC supporting Republican candidates for the US House of Representatives, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The contribution places him alongside other major financial-sector donors increasing early-cycle political spending ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also contributed $5 million to CLF in April, while Jeff Yass, founder of Susquehanna International Group, gave $2 million, filings show.
Griffin has been among the most active Republican-aligned donors in recent election cycles. Since 2015, he has contributed more than $285 million to federal candidates and committees, including over $108 million during the 2024 cycle, backing Republican Senate candidates such as David McCormick of Pennsylvania and Tim Sheehy of Montana. He has also directed more than $60 million to CLF since 2016.
Unlike many large-scale political donors, Griffin has frequently engaged in public commentary on policy issues at federal, state and municipal levels, particularly around taxation, regulation and competitiveness.
His political activity has increasingly intersected with his business footprint. Citadel recently signaled opposition to New York City policy proposals after Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared in a video outside Griffin’s Midtown Manhattan penthouse announcing plans for a pied-à -terre tax targeting luxury second homes. The firm subsequently warned it could scale back parts of its planned New York expansion, while Griffin reiterated plans to expand further in Miami.
Griffin has also maintained direct engagement with Republican leadership, including meetings with President Donald Trump at the White House and contributions to Trump’s 2025 inauguration committee, though he did not formally back his presidential campaign.
