Americans for Prosperity on Wednesday is announcing a $5 million investment in advertising to boost Republican Senate candidates, just weeks after the Koch brothers political network suggested that it could reduce spending on the GOP in the midterm elections over disagreements with President Trump and the party’s leadership in Congress.
AFP, the Koch network’s premier group for political activity, is buying digital television advertising (broadcast and cable) in three targeted Senate races. In Wisconsin, AFP is investing $820,000; in Tennessee, the group is spending $2 million; and in Missouri, it’s laying out $2.1 million. That’s in addition to the previously announced $500,000 buy in Montana.
“We are committed to building broad policy coalitions by supporting principled champions and opposing those who will take our country in the wrong direction,” AFP president Tim Phillips said in a statement.
The acceleration in AFP’s involvement in the midterm elections comes about a month after Koch officials announced during the network’s summer donor conference that it would dial back plans to defend Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Disappointment with Republican spending bills in Congress, and certain positions taken by Trump — on trade, for instance — were cited as the reasons.
The network fingered certain candidates as essentially being blacklisted from Koch money, raised from the wealthy donors that fund the network, such as Rep. Kevin Cramer, the Republican challenging Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota. Based on AFP’s activity this week, the Koch network still plans to have a say in outcome of the fall elections.
In Wisconsin, AFP is spending to boost Republican nominee Leah Vukmir, who is running against Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. In Tennessee, the group is supporting Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn, running against Phil Bredesen, the Democratic former governor, to hold an open, GOP-held seat. In Missouri, AFP’s money is going to back Republican state Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
In Montana, the group is backing Republican nominee Matt Rosendale in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.
