The Koch network has raised millions to fight Donald Trump

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By Fredreka Schouten | CNN

The influential network linked to conservative billionaire Charles Koch has raised more than $70 million for political races, the group announced Thursday, as it prepares to help shape the outcome of next year’s contests. and down the ballot and encourage Republican voters to skip the former President. Donald Trump in the race for the White House nomination.

Americans for Prosperity Action has pledged to support an opponent in the GOP presidential primary for the first time in its history. It has not yet announced who it will endorse, but the group could dramatically reshape the Republican field by deploying its vast resources and standing army of conservative activists on behalf of a candidate.

Funds raised by the group will help advance those efforts. The bulk of the total announced Thursday came from two organizations affiliated with Koch: $25 million from his Kansas-based industrial conglomerate Koch Industries, and another $25 million from Stand Together, a nonprofit he founded, he confirmed by AFP Action spokesman Bill Riggs.

The New York Times first reported the fundraising total.

The group is also launching new digital spots, first shared with CNN, that cast Trump as a candidate Republicans can’t risk supporting in 2024.

Instead of holding (President Joe) Biden to account for his reckless progressive agenda, Trump made the debate about accusations, personal grievances and the election he lost, a 30-second spot, titled The Choice, said .

The second, called Unelectable, portrays Trump as a serial loser who caused Republicans to lose the House, Senate and White House. If Donald Trump is the GOP nominee, we could lose everything, the narrator said.

The ads will run in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, officials said.

President Trump continues to fight swampy DC insiders who want nothing more than to have an establishment puppet they can control in the White House, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in an email. No amount of dirty money from shady lobbyists and mysterious donors can stop the America First movement, and that’s why President Trump continues to dominate poll after poll both nationally and statewide. We welcome this match.

AFP Action also announced Thursday its first US House endorsement of the cycle, saying it will support Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Young Kim of California, Zach Nunn of Iowa and John James of Michigan, along with former GOP Rep. Yvette Herrell of New Mexico.

In addition to trying to stir doubts about Trump among GOP loyalists, network officials say part of their 2024 strategy is to bring more general election voters into the GOP primary process to change the outcome of the early contests.

Americans for Prosperity has reached 1.4 million potential new Republican and swing voters in nearly a dozen states, officials said.

In a statement on CNN earlier this month, Americans for Prosperity CEO Emily Seidel said the group’s voter surveys showed that many Trump supporters are receptive to arguments that he is a weak candidate, his focus on 2020 is a liability, and his lack of appeal to independent voters is a problem.

That tells us that many Republicans are ready to move on, they just need to see another candidate step up and show they can lead and win, he added.

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