Healthcare contributions: $304,734
Why it matters: Booker is a senator who represents New Jersey, which is home to many big pharmaceutical companies. That, and a 2017 vote against a Bernie Sanders bill intended to lower prescription drug prices, has given him a reputation for being friendly to Big Pharma.
He's tried to shake that off as part of his 2020 presidential campaign, STAT News reported earlier this year. On the policy side, Booker has said he supports Medicare for All.
Open Secrets data from mid-July shows that Booker has received about $35,000 from the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
A Booker campaign spokeswoman said by email that the campaign contribution figures don't tell the real story.
"Since early 2017, Cory Booker has rejected campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies — not only their corporate and industry PACs, but also from their C-suite executives and board chairs. His presidential campaign rejects these contributions too, and we carefully review our FEC filings to ensure we're abiding by this pledge," the spokeswoman, Sabrina Singh, said by email.
Singh also criticized Open Secrets, saying it does not disclose how contributions are categorized and "doesn't distinguish between rank-and-file workers and corporate leadership." Using the primary source that Open Secrets relies on, Federal Election Commission reports, would instead show "how seriously we take our commitment to our pledge," Singh said.