The midterm elections may be over, but Jeb Bush isn’t slowing down.
The former Florida governor, who crisscrossed the country to help Republican candidates this year, will continue to earn chits within the Republican Party by headlining a fundraising luncheon Dec. 1 at the headquarters of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, D.C.
The money raised will go to a joint fundraising committee benefiting the NRSC, the Republican National Committee, an assortment of state GOP committees, and Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy’s Senate campaign. Cassidy is engaged in a run-off election with Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, to be decided Dec. 6.
Sen. Rob Portman, the current NRSC finance chairman, and Sen. Roger Wicker, the incoming NRSC chairman, will host along with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, will also headline the event.
Tickets for a VIP reception, photo opportunity with Bush and lunch are priced at $25,000 for individuals or $15,000 for PACs, according to an invitation obtained by the Washington Examiner. Individual donors will also be able to purchase tickets to lunch only for $5,000, or tickets to lunch and the photo op for $10,000.
The event will mark the first fundraiser headlined by Bush since the midterm elections. During the election cycle, Bush stumped for Republican candidates such as Thom Tillis in North Carolina and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Bush also headlined a string of big-ticket fundraising events, including one in Tampa in September benefiting GOP Senate candidates that brought in close to $1 million.
Bush’s midterm elections activity was deliberately calculated to preface a potential bid for president in 2016. Although Bush has said he does not intend to reach a public decision on whether to run until next year, his family has recently heightened speculation with public entreaties for Bush to consider that path.
On a book tour promoting his biography of his father, George W. Bush put the odds of Jeb Bush running for president at “50-50.”
“I hope he does because he’d be a great president,” George W. Bush said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
