Republican super PACs, outraised all cycle-long by their Democratic counterparts, have seen a rush of fresh contributions in the closing weeks of the midterm campaign as optimism for GOP gains has built.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC affiliated with House Republican leadership, raised $3.4 million from July 1 through Sept. 30. This modest third quarter haul is hardly eye-popping. But the prominent list of contributors suggests that Republican major donors are loosening the spigot, at least somewhat. Many in this segment of the GOP donor community had reduced super PAC giving this cycle, both to avoid IRS scrutiny and because they were disappointed in the party’s 2012 losses.
Among the Congressional Leadership Fund’s third quarter contributors:
• Chevron Policy Government & Public Affairs: $1 million
• New York investor Paul Singer: $500,000
• Alliance Resource Management GP LLC: $500,000
• Former Connecticut Senate candidate Linda McMahon: $350,000
• Murray Energy Corp.: $140,000
• Ameritrade Founder J. Joe Ricketts: $125,000
Congressional Leadership Fund plans to spend $16.5 million boosting GOP House candidates this month. American Crossroads, a GOP super PAC focused on Senate races, also has seen an uptick in fundraising as the Nov. 4 elections have drawn near. The group raised $11 million in September.
