BOSTON -- The co-owner of the Boston Celtics said Tuesday he will make a final decision this week about whether or not he’ll jump into the race to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Team 5 Investigates reporter Janet Wu reported Tuesday that Pagliuca, a relative political novice, may have some explaining to do about his political past.

In 1994, when Kennedy was embroiled in his toughest re-election campaign, Pagliuca, a Democrat, supported and donated money to his friend and business colleague Mitt Romney, a Republican. Romney's finance chair was Pagliuca's wife, Judy Pagliuca.

Pagliuca’s campaign strategist insisted Tuesday the potential candidate has been a 'loyal democrat' ever since.

However Team 5 Investigates discovered that while Pagliuca has indeed given generous political donations to Democrats over the last decade – including a $25,000 contribution to the Democratic National Committee -- he has also made significant contributions to Republicans.

In 2002, according to documents reviewed by Team 5 Investigates, Pagliuca gave $5,000 to the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. In 1999 he donated $1,000 to President George W. Bush and in 1996 he gave $2,000 to Gov. William Weld.

In the past decade, Pagliuca has also made political contributions to a long list of democrats, including President Barack Obama, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, California Sen.Barbara Boxer and Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

“Every election comes down to trust and if you're going to replace Ted Kennedy, people have to trust you. It's already a steep hill for Pagliuca to climb. He's well-known in business and sports, not in politics, said democratic political analyst Mary Anne Marsh. "If voters are given a reason not to believe him and trust him, it's going to make the climb even harder - even with 20 million dollars.”

Team 5 Investigates has also reviewed Pagliuca's voting record, which shows that he did not vote in at least ten state or national elections over the last 13 years. Team 5 Investigates learned he did not vote in any recent local elections in the town of Weston, where he resides.

Records show Pagliuca missed state primaries in 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996, as well as a state election in 1998. He also did not vote in presidential primaries in 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996.

Thirty-eight percent of eligible voters turned out in the 2008 presidential primary in Massachusetts. In the 2000 and 2004 presidential primaries, turnout was even lower at 16 percent of eligible voters.

Pagliuca’s personal fortune is estimated at $400 million.

Pagliuca’s strategist Doug Rubin noted that the Celtics co-owner did not contribute to his friend and former colleague at Bain Capital when Romney ran for governor or president.

Rubin said Pagliuca, if he decides to run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, will bring health care and economic expertise to the job.

As a venture capitalist, he was one of the key players in organizing Hospital Corporation of America where he still serves on the board.