Photograph by Matthew Staver/Bloomberg

An attendee visits the Northrop Grumman Corp. booth during the 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in this file photo.

With Democrats leading the Senate and Republicans controlling the House of Representatives, it’s a good time for companies to nurture bipartisan alliances by making early campaign contributions to both parties.

Following are some of the companies that made donations through their political action committees to at least one Democratic national party committee and one Republican national party committee in January, according to Federal Election Commission filings due today.

Northrop Grumman Corp., a defense contractor bracing for automatic budget cuts set to take effect March 1, donated $15,000 apiece to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. It gave the same amount to the House campaign organizations, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. All of the donations were made Jan. 4.

The $15,000 represents the maximum donation active PACs can give to a national party committee in a calendar year.

Google Inc., the world’s biggest search engine company, gave $5,000 each to the DCCC and NRSC.

American Airlines, which will become the world’s biggest airline after merging with US Airways, donated $15,000 apiece to the DSCC and NRSC.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sent $15,000 each to the DSCC and NRCC on Jan. 23.

Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable company, sent $15,000 each to the DSCC and NRCC on Jan. 22.

Original post is Companies Donate Early to Dueling Political Parties by Political Capital.

Photograph by Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg

Pfizer Inc.’s German headquarters in Berlin.

Pfizer Inc. and Aetna Inc. were among the biggest donors to the Democratic Governors Association and the Republican Governors Association in the final weeks of 2012, as the political groups replenished their treasuries to prepare for 38 gubernatorial contests this year and next.

Pfizer, the world’s largest drugmaker, donated $250,000 to the DGA on Dec. 19 and $250,000 to the RGA on Dec. 28, according to reports the political groups filed yesterday with the Internal Revenue Service.

Aetna Inc., the third-biggest U.S. health insurer, gave $250,000 to the DGA on Dec. 11 and $250,000 to the RGA on Dec. 17.

Companies often make contributions to lawmakers in both parties to build and maintain professional relationships.

The RGA received $150,000 from Eli Lilly & Co. and $125,000 from Comcast Corp. in the final weeks of 2012.

The DGA and RGA will compete in this year’s gubernatorial races in New Jersey, where Republican Chris Christie is seeking a second term, and Virginia, where former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe and Republican state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli are vying to succeed Republican Bob McDonnell.

There are 36 contests for governor on 2014 ballots. Republicans now hold 30 governorships compared to 19 for Democrats and one for an independent.

Original post is Pfizer, Aetna Help Both Parties Reload for Governors’ Races by Political Capital.