Milwaukee-based department store giant Kohl’s states that it will not sponsor any event related to Republican National Convention this summer in that city Where is Donald Trump? will get the crown partypresidential candidate.
“Kohl’s is not a political organization or donor and does not sponsor or participate in any specific RNC events,” a company spokesperson told CNBC. “We support the business community through the Greater Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce.”
The convention is expected to bring an estimated 50,000 people to the Brew City from July 15-18, culminating in Trump’s final acceptance of the party’s nomination in full.
The announcement comes at a time when both Republicans and Democrats are fighting secure corporate support for party conventions at a time when many big brands are trying to stay out of politics.
Fiserv is one of Wisconsin’s largest Fortune 500 companies that plans to directly sponsor the convention. Not ManpowerGroup and Kohl’s.
ManpowerGroup told CNBC that the nonprofit is supporting the Milwaukee 2024 Host Committee through donations to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC).
“We did not directly fund the RNC, but instead provided funds on behalf of us and others, as MMAC did for the DNC. [Democratic National Convention],” a spokesman he said.
Northwestern Mutual is the host committee and its CEO John Schlifske reportedly helping the group raise money.
Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in his first presidential campaign in 2016. But he lost the state in 2020 to President Joe Biden. Both Republicans and Democrats see this state as a must-win this November.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, Kohl hasn’t sponsored either the Republican or Democratic conventions in more than a decade.
According to FEC records, in 2002 the company donated $10,000 to the Republican National Committee’s state election committee, with the funds going mostly to GOP state parties. The late Democratic state senator Herb Kohl was president of the family-owned company until the late 1970s.
Kohl’s absence from the list of Republican convention sponsors is notable, given that convention organizers have publicly touted the importance of Wisconsin-based companies that help fund and organize the event.
Reince Priebus, Trump’s former chief of staff, who is the chairman of the host committee of the city, said this. The Wall Street Journal Almost all of Wisconsin’s Fortune 500 companies have pledged financial support. The Republican convention aims to raise about $70 million.
Representatives of the Republican National Committee and the Milwaukee host committee did not respond to requests for comment.
Kohl’s decision to stop donating to the convention coincides with the company’s renewed effort to find its footing in a competitive market.
Kohl’s is chasing a turnaround and trying to capitalize on its locations in suburban strip malls, especially with rival Macy’s. It closes about 150 namesake stores.
However, the company’s sales are shrinking and declining was based on the old customer base Target competes with expanding retail rivals including Shein and Amazon.
Kohl’s shares It fell by more than 20% Earlier this month, after missing Wall Street’s earnings and revenue expectations.
Within Kohl’s, it’s trying to attract younger shoppers by opening more Sephora stores, adding Babies R Us stores and expanding its mix of trendy merchandise, such as more fashionable clothing and a larger home decor department.