About MLS Ownership Politics
Major League Soccer features 29 teams (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal play in MLS but operate in Canada). Ownership ranges from heavily Republican-aligned donors (Anschutz with the LA Galaxy, Mas brothers with Inter Miami, Sporting KC group with Brownback ties) to clearly Democratic-aligned owners (Arthur Blank with Atlanta United, the Hanauer family with the Sounders). The Athletic has documented a disconnect: league teams routinely back high-visibility social causes while individual owners donate to both parties.
Rating scale: 1–3 Not Aligned (liberal) · 4–6 Mixed · 7–9 Aligned (conservative). Ratings reflect ownership donations and franchise public conduct, not on-field performance.
All MLS Teams — Sorted by Rating
Columbus Crew — Rating 8 / 9 · Aligned
Colorado Rapids — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
FC Dallas — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
Inter Miami CF — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
LA Galaxy — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
New England Revolution — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
Real Salt Lake — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
San Jose Earthquakes — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
Sporting Kansas City — Rating 7 / 9 · Aligned
Charlotte FC — Rating 6 / 9 · Mixed
Los Angeles FC — Rating 5 / 9 · Mixed
New York City FC — Rating 5 / 9 · Mixed
Chicago Fire FC — Rating 4 / 9 · Mixed
Austin FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
CF Montréal — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
D.C. United — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
FC Cincinnati — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Houston Dynamo FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Minnesota United FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Nashville SC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
New York Red Bulls — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Orlando City SC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Philadelphia Union — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Portland Timbers — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Seattle Sounders FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
St. Louis City SC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Toronto FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Vancouver Whitecaps FC — Rating 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Atlanta United FC — Rating 2 / 9 · Not Aligned
Sources
The Athletic — Disconnect: As MLS teams back social causes, owners political donations
The Guardian — US sports owners political donations database (2024)
Los Angeles Times — How L.A. sports team owners contributed to the 2020 election
Related
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