Names in the News: Tom Vilsack


 

Publication Date: December 2008

Publisher: National Institute on Money in State Politics (U.S.)

Author(s): Tyler Evilsizer

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: Secretary of Agriculture; Tom Vilsack

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Tom Vilsack, who served as Iowa's governor from 1998 through 2006, got the nod from Obama for Secretary of Agriculture. Since 1998, Vilsack has received only 2 percent of his campaign contributions, or $224,958, from agricultural interests, significantly less than his Republican opponents. Vilsack's top contributor was the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which gave more than $1 million, or 9 percent of Vilsack's total campaign funds. Other top contributors were the Iowa Democratic Party, which contributed $516,236; and AFSCME Council 61, the Iowa council of the government employees union, which gave $326,825.