A recent study conducted by The Observer analyzing Federal Election Commission data showed that political donations by Notre Dame professors to Democratic candidates and political action committees outnumber donations to Republican groups.
The Observer reviewed publicly available data on contributions by Notre Dame professors to political candidates and political action committees from Jan. 1, 2023, through Jan. 27, 2026. The study excluded contributions from non-professor employees of Notre Dame. The data showed that 243 professors made political donations, representing just under 20% of all professors at Notre Dame, though the number may be slightly inflated due to the potential inclusion of emiriti professors in the dataset.
Of those who made political donations, 228 (93.82%) donated to Democratic candidates or causes, while only 15 (6.18%) donated to Republican candidates or causes.
A smaller but still considerable gap existed in the total dollar amounts given to each party, with donations to Republicans amounting to $53,069.96 and donations to Democrats totaling $212,258.31.
As a result, the average donation from professors to Republican candidates and causes was $3,537. For professors who supported Democratic candidates and causes, the average amount was lower at $930.96.
Nationwide, professors who support as Democrats outnumber those who support Republicans.
The predominance of professors who donate to Democratic candidates and causes suggests that faculty at Notre Dame, at least among those who are politically active, may be more liberal than the student body. A poll conducted by The Observer before the 2024 general election, surveying 1,205 students, found that 31.8% identified as Democrats, 30.5% as Republicans, and 36.7% as independents. The same poll found that 54.3% of students supported Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president, while 38.3% supported Donald Trump for president and JD Vance for vice president.
