Two leading conservative political action committees spent more than $36.7 million on various federal races during the first quarter of 2024.
Both PACs are associated with key conservative influence groups.
Americans for Prosperity Action Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit closely tied to conservative megadonor Charles Koch and his family’s business, Koch Industries Inc. FEC records show that Koch Industries and Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, a group founded by Charles Koch, both gave the PAC $25 million in May 2023.
Club for Growth, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, calls itself a free-enterprise advocacy group. Club for Growth Action is primarily financed by two conservative megadonors: Jeff Yass and Richard Uihlein.
Presidential Race
Americans for Prosperity backed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s campaign for the White House, spending millions on the unsuccessful effort.According to the FEC, Americans for Prosperity spent about $31.2 million to support Ms. Haley between November 2023 and February 2024. It also spent about $10 million to oppose former President Donald Trump and about $9.4 million against President Joe Biden between May 2023 and October 2023.
The presidential primary spending accounts for more than 80 percent of the about $62.2 million the PAC expended since the beginning of 2023.
Senate Races
In 2024, both action funds are plowing money into what will likely be among the most competitive Senate seat races in the cycle—those in Indiana, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.Americans for Prosperity is backing the Republican Party candidate in every race. Through February of the current election cycle, it spent about $3.7 million to help Tim Sheehy in Montana, Sam Brown in Nevada, and Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania.
According to its most recent filings, Americans for Prosperity spent about $766,000 in March and April to support Bernie Moreno.
Both Mr. Moreno and Mr. McCormick won their state primaries and will officially represent their party in November.
Mr. Sheehy and Mr. Brown are still awaiting primary elections but are considered the front-runners in their states.
Club for Growth focused on the Ohio and West Virginia races. Through February of the current election cycle, it spent about $4.2 million on those races.
Club for Growth spent about $2.1 million against West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, who is running for the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). It allocated $1.82 million toward Mr. Moreno.
A smaller amount, $300,000, went toward Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). Mr. Banks is the presumptive Republican nominee to replace Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).
According to Club for Growth Action’s most recent FEC filing, in March, the PAC spent about $1.9 million against Matt Dolan, Mr. Moreno’s Republican primary opponent, during the final days of Ohio’s primary race.
Mr. Moreno received about $963,000 in support during the same period.
