Joseph W. Craft III

Industry: Coal
Primary Company: Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP)
Age: Born ~1950¹
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma²
Estimated Worth: $1.4 billion as of 2012³

Background

Joseph W. Craft III is president and chief executive officer of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (ARLP). ARLP is the largest coal producer in Kentucky and the second largest coal producer in the eastern United States. The company operates mines in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and West Virginia, and sells coal to U.S. electric utilities.⁴

Craft is on the board of directors of BOK Financial Corporation, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Craft is a former board chair of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE).⁵

ACCCE‘s membership has included Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, Murray Energy Corporation, Southern Company, Western Fuels Association, Union Pacific Railroad, Peabody Energy, CSX, Duke Energy, Detroit Edison, and many other coal and mining companies.⁶

Kelly Craft, Joe Craft’s wife, served as U.S. ambassador to Canada during the administration of President Donald Trump. While in that role, Kelly Craft told reporters there were “good scientists on both sides” of the climate change debate.⁷

In 2019, Politico reported that President Trump had nominated Kelly Craft to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The role “would give her a front-row seat to the international climate talks that have huge implications for Joe Craft’s business,” Politico noted. She was confirmed to the role despite concerns from Democrats over her inexperience and potential conflicts of interest.

Joe Craft graduated from Hazard High School, Kentucky, in 1968. He has a B.A., Accounting from the University of Kentucky (1972), and a J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, (1976).He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Program, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management – Massachusetts Institute of Technology.⁸

Funding

Craft was one of several conservative political donors named in a speech by Charles Koch at the Koch’s 2011 summit in Vail, Colorado.⁹

Political Spending

U.S. Federal Election Commission data suggests that Joe and Kelly Craft gave over $1,000,000 to the Trump Victory PAC.¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹²

According to audio from the Koch brothers’ 2011 Vail, Colorado, summit, and leaked to Mother Jones, Craft was acknowledged as a major donor of at least $1 million to Koch-approved causes.¹³

In his opening remarks to summit attendees, Charles Koch lauded Craft, among others, as a major conservative political donor.¹⁴

Via The BradBlog:¹⁵

In January 2012, Craft reportedly donated approximately $500,000 to Restore Our Future, a super PAC supporting Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. The Crafts were also reportedly chairs of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign at that time. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported:¹⁶

“According to the Federal Election Commission, Craft has personally donated $507,100 since 2007 to federal candidates, political action committees and political parties. The Alliance Coal PAC has donated $340,000 in that same time frame, while Alliance employees gave $900,000.”¹⁷

“In addition, Craft has personally given $3.1 million to so-called Super PACs trying to influence the presidential race. He gave $1.25 million to American Crossroads, a Super PAC started by Karl Rove, whom he was pictured with at the Kentucky Derby this year [2012], and in January and August of this year gave two $500,000 donations to Restore our Future, a pro-Romney Super PAC, according to the Federal Election Commission.”¹⁸

Below is a summary of Joe Craft’s political spending, via campaign finance data exported from the Federal Election Commission. Note that while efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of this data, errors may be introduced in the original finance records.

Joseph W. Craft III

Committee Name	Contributions (1997–2020)
RESTORE OUR FUTURE, INC.	$1,000,000
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE	$752,600
TRUMP VICTORY	$526,000
NRCC	$238,600
TEAM RYAN	$154,600
NRSC	$139,400
TAKE BACK THE HOUSE 2020	$100,000
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY	$94,700
BOEHNER FOR SPEAKER	$94,600
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE	$79,300
ALLIANCE COAL, LLC PAC	$55,000
NEW REPUBLICAN PAC	$50,000
COALPAC A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION	$49,500
COALPAC, A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION	$45,000
KENTUCKY VICTORY 2007	$38,500
MCCONNELL MAJORITY COMMITTEETHE	$30,900
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE	$28,500
KENTUCKY STATE DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE	$20,000
MAJORITY PARTNERSHIP FUND	$20,000
OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY STATE CENTRAL & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE	$17,400
FRIENDS FOR AN AMERICAN MAJORITY	$15,600
PROSPERITY ACTION INC.	$15,000
STEVE DAINES FOR MONTANA	$13,200
OKLAHOMA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL	$12,750
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC.	$12,300
RYAN FOR CONGRESS, INC.	$10,800
FRIENDS OF TODD YOUNG, INC.	$10,800
FRIENDS OF ROY BLUNT	$10,200
GUTHRIE FOR CONGRESS	$10,100
KANSAS REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ACCT	$10,000
ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP AND AFFILIATES EMPLOYEES PAC	$10,000
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE	$10,000
NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA – FEDERAL	$10,000
FREEDOM PROJECTTHE	$10,000
OKLAHOMA STRONG LEADERSHIP PAC	$10,000
ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000
MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE ’14	$9,300
JOHN SULLIVAN FOR CONGRESS INC	$8,600
KEVIN MCCARTHY FOR CONGRESS	$8,300
MARCO RUBIO FOR SENATE 2016	$8,100
HELLER FOR SENATE	$7,900
FAMILIES FOR JAMES LANKFORD	$7,900
SULLIVAN FOR US SENATE	$7,800
CARLY FOR CALIFORNIA INC	$7,200
RON JOHNSON FOR SENATE INC	$7,200
KIRK FOR SENATE	$7,200
NY REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE	$7,124
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF LOUISIANA	$7,124
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY	$7,124
MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN PARTY	$7,124
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA INC	$7,124
NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE	$7,124
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$7,124
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS	$7,124
WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC.	$7,124
TENNESSEE REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ELECTION ACCOUNT	$7,124
WYOMING REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC.	$7,124
NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$6,328
REPUBLICAN FEDERAL COMMITTEE OF PENNSYLVANIA	$6,328
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY	$6,328
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN	$6,328
MISSOURI REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE–FEDERAL	$6,328
DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, INC.	$5,600
STEVE KNIGHT FOR CONGRESS	$5,600
FRIENDS OF JIM INHOFE	$5,600
BURR TOOMEY VICTORY FUND	$5,400
MORRISEY FOR SENATE INC	$5,400
ANDY BARR FOR CONGRESS, INC.	$5,200
COTTON FOR SENATE	$5,200
LEADERSHIP MATTERS FOR AMERICA PAC, INC.	$5,000
HELP AMERICA‘S LEADERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (HALPAC)	$5,000
MONTANANS FOR REHBERG	$5,000
ROMNEY VICTORY INC	$5,000
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAC (US CHAMBER PAC)	$5,000
JOHN SULLIVAN FOR CONGRESS, INC	$4,900
FRIENDS OF SHARRON ANGLE	$4,800
BUCK FOR COLORADO	$4,800
RICHARD BURR COMMITTEETHE	$4,800
EVAN BAYH COMMITTEE	$4,800
PORTMAN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE	$4,800
MARCO RUBIO FOR US SENATE	$4,800
FRIENDS OF JIM INHOFE COMMITTEE	$4,600
FRIENDS OF MIA LOVE	$2,700
KATIE ARRINGTON FOR CONGRESS	$2,700
MARSHA FOR SENATE	$2,700
THE RICHARD BURR COMMITTEE	$2,700
ROMNEY FOR UTAH INC	$2,700
CARL DEMAIO FOR CONGRESS	$2,600
BERG FOR SENATE	$2,500
JOSH MANDEL SENATE VICTORY COMMITTEE	$2,500
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE	$2,500
GEORGE ALLEN FOR US SENATE	$2,500
CAPITO FOR WEST VIRGINIA	$2,500
TOMMY THOMPSON FOR SENATE INC	$2,500
ROSSI FOR SENATE	$2,400
FIORINA VICTORY COMMITTEE	$2,400
RAND PAUL VICTORY KENTUCKY	$2,400
RAND PAUL FOR US SENATE	$2,400
FRIENDS FOR DANIEL MONGIARDO	$2,400
OBAMA FOR AMERICA	$2,300
BOB CORKER FOR SENATE	$2,100
TALENT FOR SENATE COMMITTEE	$2,100
RON LEWIS FOR CONGRESS	$2,100
GEOFF DAVIS FOR CONGRESS	$2,100
HUMPHREYS FOR SENATE INC	$2,000
BUSH–CHENEY ’04 INC	$2,000
LOUISVILLE & JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE	$2,000
TOM ATKINSON FOR CONGRESS	$1,350
MIKE DEWINE FOR US SENATE	$1,000
WHITFIELD FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE	$1,000
DAVID VITTER FOR US SENATE	$1,000
HEARTLAND VALUES PAC	$1,000
ABRAHAM SENATE 2000	$750
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE	$750
DEWINE FOR US SENATE	$750
FRIENDS OF CRAIG THOMAS	$500
MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE ’08	$500
LARGENT FOR CONGRESS 2000	$500
CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS FOR CONGRESS	$67
Grand Total	$4,095,117

Kelly Craft

Committee	2016	2017	2019	2020	Grand Total
TRUMP VICTORY	$265,400		$360,600		$626,000
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE	$16,600			$355,000	$371,600
FRIENDS OF TODD YOUNG, INC.	$10,800				$10,800
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA – FEDERAL	$10,000				$10,000
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS	$10,000				$10,000
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC.	$10,000				$10,000
KANSAS REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF LOUISIANA	$10,000				$10,000
MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VIRGINIA INC	$10,000				$10,000
NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE	$10,000				$10,000
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ACCT	$10,000				$10,000
TENNESSEE REPUBLICAN PARTY FEDERAL ELECTION ACCOUNT	$10,000				$10,000
ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
WYOMING REPUBLICAN PARTY, INC.	$10,000				$10,000
NY REPUBLICAN FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE	$10,000				$10,000
NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY	$10,000				$10,000
MCCONNELL SENATE COMMITTEE				$5,600	$5,600
DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, INC.	$2,700	-$2,700		$5,524	$5,524
RON JOHNSON FOR SENATE INC	$5,400				$5,400
MARCO RUBIO FOR SENATE 2016	$5,400				$5,400
COMSTOCK FOR CONGRESS	$2,700				$2,700
FRIENDS OF JOE HECK	$2,700				$2,700
COFFMAN FOR CONGRESS 2016	$2,700				$2,700
TOM ATKINSON FOR CONGRESS	$1,350				$1,350
Grand Total	$475,750	-$2,700	$360,600	$366,124	$1,199,774