KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One day after announcing that it was requesting two U.S. senators refund campaign contributions, Hallmark said it is halting all political contributions as it reviews its giving policies.
Hallmark confirmed Monday that it had asked Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, to return donations made by the Hallmark Cards PAC.
The Kansas City-based greeting card company’s political action committee, also known as HALLPAC, donated $5,000 to Marshall’s campaign and $3,000 to Hawley’s campaign during the 2020 election cycle.
Hallmark asked Hawley and Marshall to return the money after both pressed on with objections to the Electoral College certification process Jan. 6 even after a deadly riot at the Capitol paused congressional proceedings.
Hawley and Marshall were among six Senators who objected to certifying electors from either or both Arizona and Pennsylvania.
The Hallmark Cards PAC also made contributions last year to eight members of the House of Representatives who objected to certification — Reps. Sam Graves ($6,000), Blaine Luetkemeyer ($5,000), Vicky Hartzler ($2,000) Bill Long ($1,000) of Missouri; Reps. Ron Estes ($2,000), Tracey Mann ($2,000) and Jake LaTurner ($1,000) of Kansas; and Rep. Kevin McCarthy ($5,000), a California Republican and the House Minority Leader.
Asked if Hallmark would ask for those donations to be returned, a company spokesperson told 41 Action News on Tuesday:
“We have no additional comments beyond what we shared yesterday. HALLPAC is currently evaluating its giving policies and does not plan to make any contributions until that process is complete.”
Records also show a $5,000 donation to the Hawley Victory Committee, according to OpenSecrets.org.
