McDonald’s throws its weight, and money, into local elections

(Image: Emil Lendof/WSJ, Getty Images)

Sun, 18 Aug 2024

By Heather Haddon, with assistance from Christine Mai-Duc The freshest force in American politics wears striped socks, has fire-engine red hair and comes bearing french fries. McDonald’s, for decades, has exerted an outsize influence on Americans’ meals. Now, the Golden Arches are playing a growing role in politics, as the company and its franchisees donate millions of dollars to candidates for public office and political action groups and have engaged in lobbying in at least 10 states, an analysis of filings shows. I...

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