Companies Face Proxy Heat on Political Spending After Dobbs

Shareholder proposals targeting political spending are poised to ramp up in this year’s proxy season, pressing companies to unveil if their sometimes tightly-guarded stances on issues line up with their donations.

With Republican gains in the midterm elections and a new presidential election cycle looming, investors are expected to further question companies over how their campaign funding aligns with corporate stances on issues including voting rights and abortion.

For example, abortion restrictions springing up in states following last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization are sure to drive further shareholder pressure. Investors had already been ...