Overall Left-Wing Ideology Risk Score: 5.1/10 [Major retailer with unretracted $25 million 2020 racial equity pledge to Black-led institutions explicitly tied to BLM/George Floyd, longstanding firearms ban in warehouses, heavy Democrat skew in board personal giving, and new December 2025 lawsuit against Trump administration seeking full refund on tariffs — offset by genuine DEI rebranding retreat in 2025 filings, no perfect HRC CEI score for the first time in years, ICE IMAGE partnership for immigration enforcement, and explicit company policy against any political donations or partisan involvement]
- DEI / Woke Ideology: 6/10 → Evidence: Rebranded DEI to “People and Inclusion” program in late 2024 proxy statement and reduced explicit DEI language in 2025 filings amid pressure; boycotted for retaining controversial DEI policies despite shareholder pressure. Shareholders overwhelmingly rejected (98% against) anti-DEI proposal in January 2025. Not listed among the 765 businesses with perfect 100 score in Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index 2025 — first time in decades without top rating.
- Anti-Gun: 6/10 → Evidence: Longstanding policy prohibits all firearms in warehouses except for authorized law enforcement (in membership agreement since at least 2004). No donations to gun-control groups found in last 10+ years.
- Anti-Police: 5/10 → Evidence: Launched $25 million commitment in August 2020 to Black-led financial institutions and community development explicitly tied to BLM/George Floyd response (still active/unretracted in 2025). However, penalized employees for wearing BLM masks in 2020 citing anti-harassment policy and pulled Palmetto Cheese product after founder called BLM a “terror organization”.
- Anti-Military: 0/10 → Evidence: No criticism of defense spending, anti-war donations, or anti-military actions found. Offers military and veteran discounts including $40 Digital Costco Shop Card for new members.
- Open Borders: 2/10 → Evidence: Official ICE IMAGE partner since 2011, reaffirmed in February 2025 for employment verification and anti-fraud (pro-enforcement stance). No advocacy for DACA/amnesty or criticism of border security found.
- Anti-Christian Liberal Positions: 6/10 → Evidence: Signed 2022 business letter opposing anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation. No perfect HRC CEI score in 2025, reducing aggressive trans-inclusive mandates.
- Soros / Open Society Ties: 0/10 → Evidence: Zero grants from Open Society Foundations or Soros family entities to Costco or its foundation in last 15 years; no board/C-suite overlaps or partnerships found.
- Democrat-Partisan Donations: 9/10 → Company PAC: Explicit policy against any contributions to political parties or candidates ($0 in direct donations per OpenSecrets 2024 cycle summary). → Leadership personal: Board members heavily Democrat, including chairman donated $250,000 to Senate Majority PAC in 2024; multiple directors maxed out to Kamala Harris, DNC. Total leadership Democrat %: ~85–90%.
Notable conservative positions or genuine retreats (if any):
• Genuine DEI retreat with rebranding and reduced language in 2025 filings.
• ICE IMAGE partnership for immigration enforcement.
• Strict no-political-donations company policy.
Biggest red flags (top 3 worst offenses):
- New December 2025 lawsuit suing Trump administration for full refund on tariffs.
- Unretracted $25M 2020 racial-equity pledge tied to BLM moment.
- Heavy Democrat skew in board personal giving despite company neutrality.
Final verdict: Moderately Compromised