FINDING:
Reid Hoffman did not directly contribute $1 million to the Stefany Shaheen for Congress campaign, but money he contributed to a political action committee in August was eventually used to support the Shaheen campaign.
CLAIM:
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Anthony DiLorenzo claimed Oct. 26 in a debate with his opponent, Democrat Stefany Shaheen, that Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn, donated $1 million to Shaheen’s campaign. A similar claim is made on a website, The Truth About Stefany, which is financed by the N.H. Republican Party and not tied directly to DiLorenzo’s campaign
WHAT WE FOUND
The Truth About Stefany website features an infographic about Stefany Shaheen with the headline, “She attacks billionaires. Billionaires are paying to elect her,” followed by a list of names and dollar amounts, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and the $1 million figure. A link below the infographic shares further details about his $1 million contribution to New Engagement PAC.
In addition, during the Oct. 26 Shaheen-DiLorenzo debate, DiLorenzo said of Shaheen, "The largest donation she received was from a notorious Epstein files – Reid Hoffman, $1 million – who not only went to the island but on Epstein's birthday sent him a note that said 'this is for the kids,' or 'the girls. That's who's supporting her." (Hoffman has been criticized for continuing to have ties with the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to sex offenses involving a minor.)
Federal Election Commission records show that Hoffman — who has donated $41.8 million to support Democrats around the country this election cycle — did not donate directly to the Stefany Shaheen for Congress campaign. In August 2026, Hoffman did make a $1 million contribution to the New Engagement PAC, which in turn made contributions totaling $3 million to the New Leadership PAC later that month. All told, in 2026 New Leadership PAC has spent more than $3 million in independent expenditures in support of Shaheen or in opposition to Shaheen’s challengers.
For context, under the Federal Election Campaign Act, individuals can contribute only a maximum of $3,500 per election to a candidate’s committee. However, contributions to independent Super PACs are not limited, but Super PACs cannot donate to or work in coordination with a candidate’s campaign.
EVIDENCE
Claims that appear on DiLorenzo’s The Truth About Stefany website:
https://thetruthaboutstefany.com/
“Claims on Anthony DiLorenzo's website that Stefany Shaheen has received $1 million in contributions from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman”
“A new request came in -- this one asking if the claims are valid about Stefany Shaheen getting $1m in donations from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. The claims are on a website belonging to congressional candidate Anthony DiLorenzo.”
“Reporting and filing
Each assignment will have a folder identified by its Claim ID, with source materials, a draft template and the project logo. Keep your draft in that folder. Checks should be short and focused: explain the claim, what you found and what the evidence shows, with links to your sources.
Aim for two to three business days, with five as the usual maximum. If it will take longer, update your filing date on the board and email Jeff to let him know when to expect it.”
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From website:
“Less than 9 cents of every dollar raised and spent to elect Stefany Shaheen can be traced to New Hampshire. The rest comes from out-of-state super PACs backed by billionaires like Reid Hoffman, plus registered lobbyists and Washington politicians.”
“Reid Hoffman
California · LinkedIn co-founder · Appears in the Epstein files
$1,000,000”
Drop down menu clicked:
“Hoffman: $1,000,000 to New Engagement PAC, which then sent $3 million to New Leadership PAC, the biggest spender for her. His contacts with Jeffrey Epstein appear in released Epstein records; he has apologized for the association and denies any wrongdoing (Fortune).”
Site links to this:
And also this
And this:
“Where the money came from. As the anti-Sullivan ads began, a DC super PAC, New Engagement PAC, sent New Leadership PAC $3 million (Aug. 25 and 31). New Engagement PAC's largest donor was LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman: $1 million on Aug. 13. It also took $870,000 on Aug. 27 from New Engagement Fund, a group that does not report its donors to the FEC. New Leadership PAC’s own donors include billionaire Rob Hale ($100,000; Forbes 400) and DK Crown Holdings, a DraftKings company ($250,000, its largest corporate check).
Sources: Hoffman contribution · New Engagement PAC transfers · New Leadership PAC donors (FEC) · Forbes 400 list (Boston Globe) · DraftKings subsidiaries (SEC)”
And this
“She calls her opponent a “MAGA mega-donor working for corporate special interests.” Her own race is being lifted by millions from an out-of-state super PAC, with a billionaire’s $1 million behind its biggest donor. (Stefany Shaheen, Facebook video, June 29, 2026)”
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This from 10/26 in Union Leader:
“A week ago, the New Hampshire Republican State Committee created an anti-Shaheen website that included the alleged Hoffman connection.
According to Federal Election reports, Hoffman, a billionaire venture capitalist, gave $1 million to a New Engagement PAC. Shortly after that, this PAC sent $3 million to the Massachusetts-based New Leadership PAC, which then spent more than $750,000 on pro-Shaheen ads during the tight Democratic primary.
Shaheen denied any knowledge about Hoffman.
Who is Reid Hoffman? Did he found LinkedIn?
Yes: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linkedin-m-a-microsoft-idUSKCN0YZ1FP/
Though often see references to him being a CO-founder, so that might be more technically accurate (example https://www.cnbc.com/make-it/2025/01/17/billionaire-linkedin-co-founder-traits-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed.html)
Did he donate ANYTHING directly to Stefany Shaheen?
Not listed in 25-26 as an individual donor anyway, though i see he donated to several others that appear to be single-candidate focused: Gillibrand for Senate and Friends of Mark Warner for example
Where has he made donations?
See downloaded FEC spreadsheet for 25-26 numbers (for him as an individual)
Did he donate 1 million to New Engagement PAC, and when?
Yes, Aug 13 2026 see screenshot from FEC website as well as downloaded donations spreadsheet
Did New Engagement PAC send $3 mill to New Leadership PAC? When? When did “anti-Sullivan ads” begin?
Since August 25 2026 New Engagement PAC has sent New Leadership PAC $3,000,000 via transactions (see FEC screenshot) 8/25 and 8/31
Who else did New Engagement fund?
In Aug 2026 only other one was Time to Lead Pac Aug 04 2026
Who else funds New Leadership PAC?
New Engagement PAC biggest donors in Aug 2026 and overall for 2026 but a number of other donors - see spreadsheet and screenshot; add up total donations to compare
Is New Leadership PAC the “biggest spender for her”?
Yes - including pro Shaheen and opposition spending on Sullivan and DiLorenzo
See downloaded sheets for pro Shaheen and anti DiLorenzo spending from 2025-2026.NEED TO ADD IN ANTI SULLIVAN AMOUNTS
Who else does New Leadership fund?
See screenshot/ spreadsheet tab
Total spending $4,983,817.05
Where/on who else did they spend $ during this same time frame?
See screenshot / spreadsheet tab
Did New Leadership PAC spend $1 million on Shaheen since his donation?
Yes
Source: FEC website https://www.fec.gov/; data uploaded into spreadsheet here; additional website screenshots here
CREDITS
Reporter: Jennifer Leahy, fact-checker
QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS
Contact: Jeff Feingold, jfeingoldnhbr@gmail.com