Rays owners pour $140,000 into political campaigns

TAMPA, Fla. — The owners of the Tampa Bay Rays and companies connected to them have contributed at least $140,000 to political campaigns involving Hillsborough County commissioners, raising questions about the relationship between political donations and public decisions surrounding the team’s multibillion-dollar stadium project.

According to an investigation published Tuesday by Axios Tampa Bay, commissioners Gwen Myers, Harry Cohen and Joshua Wostal received a combined total of at least $140,000 from members of the team’s ownership group and affiliated businesses.

The donations came as local officials considered plans for a new baseball stadium, a project expected to cost approximately $2.36 billion.

Donations Around Key Stadium Decisions

County records reviewed by Axios show that a lobbyist representing the Rays met with six of Hillsborough County’s seven commissioners in late 2025.

Political contributions followed, with some arriving shortly before important votes on the stadium proposal.

For example, companies associated with Rays investors contributed $25,000 to a political committee supporting Commissioner Gwen Myers approximately one week before she voted in favor of a preliminary stadium agreement.

Commissioner Harry Cohen’s political committee also received $13,000 from three businesses connected to Rays investors on March 31.

However, not every recipient supported the stadium. Commissioner Joshua Wostal opposed the project despite receiving contributions from businesses associated with the ownership group.

Political Money Also Reached Stadium Opponents’ Challengers

The investigation also found that more than $40,000 went to Stacy Hahn, who challenged Commissioner Donna Cameron-Cepeda after Cameron-Cepeda publicly opposed investing county resources in the proposed stadium.

The donations have drawn attention because of their timing and the financial stakes involved in the stadium negotiations.

Taxpayers Face a Major Financial Commitment

The new stadium received final approval from the Tampa City Council and Hillsborough County Commission in August.

Under the approved financing arrangement, Hillsborough County is expected to contribute approximately $796 million, while the city of Tampa will provide $80 million. The Rays are expected to invest roughly $1.37 billion and cover construction cost overruns.

The stadium is planned for the Hillsborough College campus along Dale Mabry Highway, with an anticipated opening in 2029.

Do the Donations Suggest Wrongdoing?

Political campaign contributions are not automatically illegal, and the reported donations do not establish bribery, corruption or improper conduct by the commissioners.

Nevertheless, the timing of some contributions raises questions about transparency and the influence of wealthy developers and sports franchise owners on decisions involving substantial public funding.

The Rays declined to comment to Axios about the donations. Several officials contacted by the publication also did not respond to requests for comment.

As Tampa moves forward with one of its largest sports development projects, the relationship between political fundraising and public spending is likely to remain a subject of scrutiny.