Political Engagement
At Marathon Petroleum Corporation, we view participation by the company in the political process as an essential part of advancing the meaningful exchange of information and views on issues affecting our company and our stakeholders.
Engagement Principles
In our political engagement efforts, we focus on maintaining a strong business presence across the regions in which we operate and continuing to meet the energy needs of consumers with competitive prices while protecting the value of our shareholders’ investments. As such, we support people and policies that:
- Promote energy security
- Encourage free market principles, including technology neutrality
- Provide a balanced, science-based approach to an issue
- Support MPC’s Core Value of Safety and Environmental Stewardship and our commitment to sustainability
We participate in the political process in a number of ways, including lobbying, grassroots activity, issue advocacy, participation in trade associations, supporting an active employee political action committee and, where lawful, the direct support of political candidates and ballot issues. Because MPC is an integrated company that processes, refines, markets and transports natural gas, petroleum and petroleum products, and is one of the largest producers and marketers of renewable diesel in the U.S., we engage on those issues that touch the company and our stakeholders. MPC has interests in many topics including those that affect statutory and regulatory compliance for business, environment, safety and security, as well as those issues that impact employees, communities and the overall evolution of our industry.
Federal Lobbying Disclosures
The company complies with the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act by filing reports about our lobbying activities and expenditures. Federal lobbying disclosure reports are required by the Lobbying Disclosure Act to be filed with Congress on a quarterly basis, and must include a description of the matters on which the company has lobbied and have a good faith estimate of the lobbying expenditures incurred by the company. The expenditures included in these reports consist primarily of employees’ compensation and benefits attributable to hours spent on federal lobbying activities, lobbying fees paid to outside lobbying firms, trade association dues attributable to federal lobbying activities, travel and incidental expenses related to federal lobbying activities and overhead expenses attributable to federal lobbying activities.
Such reports filed by the company and retained lobbying firms may be found on the website of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Secretary of the U.S. Senate by searching for “Marathon Petroleum.” MPC reported federal lobbying disclosures in the amount of $2,640,000 in 2025, $2,520,000 in 2024, $2,300,000 in 2023, $1,910,000 in 2022 and $2,840,000 in 2021.
Political Action Committee Contributions
Federal laws and regulations strictly prohibit contributions of corporate funds to candidates for federal office or to third parties, such as political parties and political action committees, whose purpose is to contribute to or assist federal candidates. The company’s policies and guidelines are intended to ensure compliance with these prohibitions.
Subject to strict limits imposed by federal laws and regulations, Marathon Petroleum Corporation Employees Political Action Committee (MPAC) may contribute funds to candidates for federal office, political parties, other political action committees and certain other political organizations. MPAC contributions are approved by a Political Action Committee board comprised of company employees. MPAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and reports on its contributions to the FEC on a monthly basis. MPAC’s monthly reports and other information on its receipts and expenditures can be found on the FEC’s website by searching for “Marathon Petroleum Corporation Employees Political Action Committee."
Information concerning contributions made from company treasury funds to candidates, parties, political action committees and other political organizations and ballot or referendum issue committees is provided for the years 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Corporate Contributions
Individual state and local laws govern contributions to candidates for state and local offices. Where permitted by applicable law and approved by internal processes, the company may, directly or indirectly, contribute corporate funds to candidates for state or local offices or to political parties that support or assist candidates for state or local offices. Also, where permitted by applicable law, the company may use company funds, properties or services for the purposes of supporting the nomination or election of candidates to state or local office, providing assistance to candidates seeking election to such offices, or supporting ballot measures and other issue-related campaigns. We report state and local political contributions and expenditures as required by applicable law. Not all states and localities provide access to such reports online, and some do not require reporting of political contribution expenditures.
Information concerning the company's participation in trade associations with dues of $50,000 or greater and that may engage in lobbying activities is provided for the years 2025, 2024, 2023 , 2022 , and 2021.
Additional Information on Political Activities
Board and Management Oversight
Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s political contributions and lobbying expenditures are subject to the oversight of our Board of Directors, its Sustainability and Public Policy Committee, and senior management, including the vice president of Federal and State Government Affairs. The charter of the Board’s Sustainability and Public Policy Committee articulates the purpose for the Committee and sets forth broad responsibilities that the Committee implements in the following ways:
- Oversight of the company’s governance framework for political engagement and public policy development
- Oversight of budgets for lobbying expenditures and review of the company’s advocacy positions
- Oversight of budgets for payments made to trade associations that engage in lobbying activities and review of the advocacy positions of our trade associations, including their positions on climate
- Oversight of budgets for contributions to political candidates, committees or parties
- Review of reports and disclosures regarding such expenditures and contributions
Political activities by and on behalf of Marathon Petroleum Corporation are managed day-to-day by our Federal and State Government Affairs organizations and our Public Policy team.
Political Activity Compliance Processes
Federal, state and local regulations govern certain aspects of corporate involvement in activities of a political or public policy nature. These laws and regulations establish prohibitions and limitations, provide detailed reporting and record-keeping requirements and define enforcement provisions. We have established internal policies with guidelines to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, and to govern our participation in the political process.
Code of Business Conduct Questionnaire
On an annual basis our Office of Business Integrity and Compliance circulates a Code of Business Conduct questionnaire and each salaried employee, executive officer, and member of our Board of Directors is required to complete the questionnaire and sign a certification that includes a specific statement of compliance with our political activity policies.
Audit Assurance and Advisory Services Review
Our Audit Assurance and Advisory Services organization routinely conducts reviews of Government Affairs’ practices and required reporting documentation. The Audit Assurance and Advisory Services group reports its findings to senior management for review.
Separation of Personal and Company Views
Because participation in the political process is vital to a free and democratic society, we respect the right of and encourage our employees to engage in political activities of their own choosing. When engaged in these personal activities, employees’ views and actions are their own and not those of the company no matter the employee’s employment level or management status.
Gifts to Elected Officials, Regulators and Government Employees
Federal law prohibits registered federal lobbyists and entities that employ federal lobbyists, such as MPC, from providing gifts or anything of value to members of Congress or congressional staffers. Separate and similarly strict rules apply to officers and employees of the executive branch of the federal government. Additionally, many state and local governments have enacted various types of gift laws and regulations applicable to their elected officials and public employees. The company has adopted policies and guidelines that are intended to ensure compliance with these prohibitions.
Lobbying Contracts
All lobbying contracts and political contributions made by the Company, or on behalf of the Company, are arranged through our management and other professional staff of our Government Affairs organizations to ensure compliance with laws regulating political contributions and lobbying activities and to ensure that such activities are aligned with the interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Trade Association Participation
Like most companies, Marathon Petroleum Corporation participates in trade associations and similar groups at the national, state, and local levels. Taking part in these associations is an important part of our role as active members of the oil and gas industry as well as of the business communities in which we operate. These associations engage in many activities for the benefit of their members, including raising awareness of and advocating on industry issues. Through our trade associations, we seek to solve industry issues by championing solutions within the trade organization that are in the best interests of the company and our stakeholders. Trade associations also provide an important forum for us to engage in the development of industry standards and practices and to share advances in science and engineering that inform best practices of the future.
Trade Association Alignment
When engaging on issues, including but not limited to climate, we encourage our trade associations to take positions that are consistent with our engagement principles – to promote energy security; encourage free market principles, including technology neutrality; provide a balanced, science-based approach to an issue; and support MPC’s Core Value of Safety and Environmental Stewardship and our commitment to sustainability.
Separation of Company Views from Trade Association Views
While MPC engages with trade associations on many issues, we do not control the position of any trade association, and these associations do not always end up endorsing our preferred positions. Our company may take positions that are different from, or extend beyond the scope of, trade association platforms. We seek to work with the association membership to promote reasonable compromises and believe it is important to be engaged so our positions on issues of importance to the company can be expressed. We believe it is critical to remain engaged in these policy debates – both as a company and as an industry.
Oversight of Trade Association Activities
Members of our senior management team exercise oversight of trade association activities through their own involvement in the associations and by assigning various employee technical and subject matter experts to support trade group committees and projects.
On an annual basis, our senior management also undertakes a review of trade association memberships and assesses the effectiveness of the respective groups and the utility of the company’s new or continued participation in them.
Trade Association Membership
Information concerning the company's participation in trade associations with dues of $50,000 or greater and that may engage in lobbying activities is provided for the years 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Grassroots Activities
Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s grassroots activities are designed to encourage broad support for favorable action on legislation important to the company. Grassroots activities include the development and distribution of information and the mobilization of stakeholders to contact officials. The company encourages grassroots activity on a case-by-case basis as determined by, and based on collaboration between, appropriate government affairs and business unit personnel, and with the approval of an appropriate member of senior management or his or her respective designee.
Other Political Activities
The company may periodically contribute or use funds to support or oppose ballot initiatives, or promote get-out-the-vote or other generic campaign activities, and engage in issue advocacy, and other political activities as permitted by applicable law. Any such contribution or expenditure requires consultation with and the approval of members of senior management or their respective designees.
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