The super PAC and political nonprofit group aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy raised a combined $21.6 million during the first six months of the year, more evidence Republican fundraising has not suffered because of the events of Jan. 6.
Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC, raised $11.9 million through June 30 and closed the period with a $10.6 million war chest, a 35% improvement over its previous record for cash banked during the first six months of the off-year. The balance of the $21.6 million was raised by American Action Network, a 501(c)4 organization that is permitted to engage in limited political activity but does not have to disclose its donors.
“This is the tip of the iceberg of enthusiasm we’re seeing from Americans all across the country who are eager to take back the House,” Congressional Leadership Fund President Dan Conston said in a statement.
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The healthy fundraising enjoyed by Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network was not preordained after corporations grew skittish about donating to Republicans in the aftermath of Jan. 6.
That day, grassroots supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol in an effort to block congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s November victory. After the mayhem was cleared and lawmakers resumed session, a majority of House Republicans voted to block certification of Biden’s victory in some states and intended to cast more such votes but did not receive sufficient support from Republicans in the Senate to follow through with those plans.
Under political pressure, especially from Democrats, some corporate PACs halted donations to Republicans who voted to undo Biden’s victory. But business executives have continued with their personal donations to Republican candidates and groups, and the party has not missed a beat, financially.
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Meanwhile, House Majority PAC, the super PAC aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, raised $14.9 million from Jan. 1 to June 30 and closed the period with more than 13.5 million in cash on hand. Those figures, about double what they were during the first six months of 2019, suggest that Democratic donors are engaged even though the party is in danger of losing the House majority in 2022.
