House Speaker Paul Ryan set new fundraising records in the first quarter of 2016, raising an unheard of $17 million, and a total of $23 million since becoming speaker last fall.
“Team Ryan” reported Wednesday that it raised so much money so fast that it was able to transfer $11 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee, far more than former House Speaker John Boehner, himself a fundraising whiz, transferred in his three best quarters combined.
Allies credited Ryan’s focus on pushing a new Republican agenda for re-engaging donors, calling his success a “movement” aimed at keeping control of the House to pursue Republican ideas.
Kevin Seifert, executive director of Team Ryan, said: “Six months ago, Paul Ryan was not speaker of the House and Team Ryan, his political operation, didn’t even exist. Since then, Speaker Ryan has gone all in, determined to defend and strengthen our House Republican majority so we can turn this country around.”
Added Rep. Ann Wagner, the NRCC’s fundraising boss, “Some in Washington doubted whether Paul could advance a substantive agenda, raise the funds necessary to defend and expand our House Majority, and still be a devoted husband and father – the numbers that Paul and Team Ryan have posted this quarter should remove all doubt.”
The chairman of the group, Rep. Greg Walden, said, “Because of his efforts, his desire to advance solutions, and his working in tandem with our House majority, the NRCC is in the best financial position in its history going into the election year. Paul has worked tirelessly to put our members in a position to succeed in November and we could not have a more capable leader at the helm.”
In addition to helping his side, Ryan for Congress raised $4.6 million so far this year and has $7.6 million cash on hand, the highest of any member of Congress. “The speaker’s re-elect is in a strong place,” said Team Ryan already looking ahead to his election in Wisconsin.
What’s more, his Prosperity Action PAC has written dozens of checks to House members up for reelection totaling over $230,000.
Ryan, who on Tuesday ruled out a presidential bid, has been busy promoting his agenda and raising money this year, holding over 40 events in Washington that raised nearly $3.7 million for House Republicans and nearly 100 other events out of town.
He also worked the computer, raising $383,000 online for the NRCC. Associates revealed that the NRCC raised more money online from two Ryan emails than they did online in the entire month of March 2014.
The Team Ryan Joint Fundraising Committee is comprised of Ryan for Congress, Inc., Prosperity Action PAC, Inc. & the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
