Congressman Uses Total Wine Wealth to Personally Fund Run for Senate, Loans Campaign $10 Million
(Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
Total Wine & More founder and owner, David Trone has already spent millions on his campaign for the US Senate. Trone is currently a US Representative for Maryland’s 6th Congressional seat and has spent more than $50 million of his own wealth gained from Total Wine’s success on previous Congressional runs. Now the congressman has loaned his campaign about $10 million with half of it already spent on his bid for Senate.
Total Wine & More is the largest independent alcohol retailer in the US with 259 stores in 28 states. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the alcohol retailer’s estimated worth is $2.4 billion. The company’s revenue was more than $5.5 billion in 2022.
The 68-year-old, founded and owns Total Wine & More with his brother Robert and other family members. Trone resigned as CEO in 2015 and decided to enter politics by funneling his massive wealth into several campaign runs. His spending in 2016, 2018 and 2022 made him the largest self-funder of any House candidate. He is also considered one of the richest members of Congress.
Currently, Total Wine & More is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on suspensions that the alcohol distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC has been giving the company preferential treatment. In the US, it is prohibited to offer discounts to larger retailers like Total Wine because it provides an unfair advantage and hurts smaller liquor stores. Total Wine has been unwilling to hand over documents to the FTC and the agency has presented a 20-day deadline for the retailer to comply.
Trone runs on a platform of criminal justice reform, expanding mental-health services and combating the opioid epidemic. His campaign often boasts that Trone does not take money from corporations or super PACs, which with Total Wine’s massive wealth at his back, outside support seems unnecessary.
“David has never taken a nickel in political contributions from lobbyists or political action committees,” Jared DeWese, a spokesperson for Trone’s campaign, said in a statement obtained by Bloomberg. “That independence allows him to act on his values and address issues that matter to Maryland families rather than individuals and groups that try to manipulate the legislative process.”
During his time in Congress, Trone has reported more than $110 million in income which likely doesn’t fully represent his total wealth. Trone is already outspending his competition in his run for Senate. Progressive Democrat Will Jawando dropped out of the campaign on Friday after raising $750,000 but didn’t comment on whether money was a factor. Another Democrat, Angela Alsobrooks has raised a respectable amount, roughly $3.3 million. However, in comparison, Alsobrooks’s campaign funds are still dwarfed by Trone’s and his ability to add further millions as needed.
The Total Wine founder has used most of his money for advertising, a move that has worked in the past. Trone’s success provides another talking point in the constant debate about money in politics.
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