| 
Photos by Gage Skidmore | CC BY-SA 2.0
Donors in Massachusetts commercial real estate and development are giving a slight edge to Sen. Joe Biden in the presidential race based upon 2020 campaign contribution activity.
The Democratic nominee received over $10,000 in individual contributions from donors in the Massachusetts industry sector, surpassing $8,630 that went to President Donald Trump’s reelection committee, according to federal election filings.
Biden’s Bay State edge mirrors fundraising patterns on the national level. Biden’s campaign committee has outraised the incumbent’s $17 million to $15.6 million among real estate industry donors, according to the Center for Responsive Politics’ OpenSecrets campaign finance site, which analyzes Federal Election Commission data. Including donations to outside groups, Biden’s advantage widened to $34 million to $22.7 million.
The list of local Biden donors includes Jerry Rappaport Jr., director of New Boston Real Estate Investment Funds, and Beverly Johnson, president of minority consulting firm Bevco Associates.
Biden’s housing proposals include a $15,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, increases in funding for the Section 8 voucher program and financial incentives for communities to increase zoning density.
Some real estate groups have objected to Biden’s proposal to eliminate the 1031 exchange tax benefit for investors with incomes over $400,000, while Trump’s handling of the pandemic has played into the effects on property markets, with the hotel, retail and office sectors absorbing the bulk of the disruption.
At the state level, the industry has been a major source of donations to a super PAC organized by Massachusetts Convention Center Authority board member Gregg Lisciotti.
The Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC, which says it supports “fiscally responsible leaders,” received $100,000 from Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish and $10,000 donations from National Development’s Tom Alperin, Samuels & Assoc. Founder Steve Samuels, Boston Properties’ Bryan Koop, CBRE’s Andy Hoar and JLL’s John Fowler.
