Koch Candidates? Where Is the Koch Machine Spending in 2016 So Far

[geardaddy]

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13107/koch-candidates-2016-revealed

Recent articles in the national media, such as yesterday's piece in the National Review, suggest that Charles and David Koch are less interested and less involved in national politics in the 2016 election cycle than in previous years.

This latest PR effort comes despite the fact that $400 million of the $889 pledge by the Kochs through their "Freedom Partners" network has already been invested in the outcome of the 2016 elections, with more money to be spent.

A close examination of recent campaign finance disclosures and other data reveals that Team Koch has already identified some of their candidates for 2016 and in many cases has already started spending big on behalf of candidates in races for the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, state Governorships and state Attorney General races--as the presidential tickets remain unsettled and controversial.

The List:

U.S. House of Representatives (Senate Kochs at link)

Alabama

Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04) received $3,000 (updated 5/26) to his Robert Aderholt for Congress.


Arizona

Martha McSally (AZ-02) appears to be backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. Although she is not listed on its PAC site, AegisPAC contributed $13,200 to her campaign.


Colorado

Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03) received $3,000 in contributions from KochPAC in late March to VoteTipton.com.


Georgia

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) received $1,000 from KochPAC to Loudermilk for Congress in late March.


Indiana

Jim Banks (IN-03) is backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. He received $26,000 (updated 5/26) in contributions to Jim Banks for Congress from Aegis PAC.

Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-04) received a contribution of $5,000 (updated 5/26) to Hoosiers for Rokita, Inc. from KochPAC.

Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-05) received $4,500 (updated 5/26) in contributions to Friends of Susan Brooks from KochPAC.

Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) received a contribution of $2,500 to Luke Messer for Congress in late March from KochPAC.


Kentucky

Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02) received $1,500 (updated 5/26) in contributions from KochPAC to Guthrie for Congress.

Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06) received $5,000 (updated 5/26) in contributions to Andy Barr for Congress, Inc.


Michigan

Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-02) received $6,000 (updated 5/26) in contributions to Huizenga for Congress.

Rep. Dave Trott (MI-11) received a $1,500 contribution from KochPAC in late March to Trott for Congress, Inc.


Minnesota

Stewart Mills is running to unseat incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan (MN-08). KochPAC gave Friends of Stewart Mills $5,000.

Nebraska

Don Bacon (NE-02) is backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. He has received $22,600 in contributions through AegisPAC. The Koch-funded Concerned Women for America has also endorsed Bacon.

New Hampshire

Pam Tucker (NH-01) is backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. (Update 5/26, Tucker was removed from the site. She has suspended her campaign.) Jeffrey Crank, President of Aegis Strategic has contributed $300 to her campaign. AegisPAC also contributed $13,500 (updated 5/26) to Friends of Pam Tucker.

New Jersey

Rep. Scott Garret (NJ-05) received $4,000 (update 5/26) from KochPAC to his Scott Garrett for Congress.

New York

Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-01) is backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. Zeldin received $24,600 (updated 5/26) from Aegis PAC.

John Faso (NY-19) is backed by Aegis Strategic and its PAC. Faso received $22,600 from AegisPAC.

Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27) received a $1,500 contribution from KochPAC to Collins for Congress.

North Carolina

Rep. George Holding (NC-13) is retiring from his current seat to run in the 2nd District. KochPAC has contributed $1,000 to George Holding for Congress, Inc. in support of his bid. The Kochs' Americans for Prosperity (AFP) also recently took out a six figure ad campaign to attack incumbent Rep. Renee Elmers (NC-02), his opponent in the Republican primary.

Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) received $2,500 from KochPAC to Hudson for Congress in late March.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) received $2,500 from KochPAC to McHenry for Congress in late March.

North Dakota

Rep. Kevin Cramer (ND) received a $1,000 contribution from KochPAC to Cramer for Congress.


Ohio

Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16) received $5,000 (updated 5/26) in contributions from KochPAC to Jim Renacci for Congress.


Oklahoma

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) received a $2,500 contribution from KochPAC to his Mullin for Congress in late March.


Pennsylvania

Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-03) received $2,500 (updated 5/26) in contributions from KochPAC to Mike Kelly for Congress.

Rep. Scott Perry (PA-04) received a $4,000 contribution from KochPAC to Patriots for Perry in late March.

Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-09) received a $2,500 contribution contribution from KochPAC to Bill Shuster for Congress.

Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA-12) received $4,000 from KochPAC to Rothfus for Congress in late March.

Texas

Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17) received a $2,000 contribution from KochPAC to Bill Flores for Congress.


Utah

Rep. Mia Love (UT-04) received $2,500 (updated 5/26) in contributions from KochPAC to Friends of Mia Love.


Virginia

Rep. Mogan Griffith (VA-09) received a $5,000 contribution from KochPAC to Morgan Griffith for Congress in late March.


Wisconsin

Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06) received $7,500 in contributions from KochPAC to Glenn Grothman for Congress in late March.

[guillaumeb]

1. Gladly recommended. One of the very best posts I have read on DU.

And the Koch brothers continue to spend money on things like the various "Policy Institutes" that can be found in 41 states. These entities are set up to disseminate "the world according to David Koch" by employing so-called journalists to spread the Gospel of Libertarianism and control the debate on a state level.

[PSPS]

2. NPR is on their payroll now too.

[geardaddy]

3. Yes, "Nova" is funded by David Koch.

[PSPS]

5. Nova is PBS. NPR is their radio outlet for many programs.

[hfojvt]

4. those are all very tiny amounts

$1,500? or $5,000?

Might as well donate 27 cents. Congressional candidates have and spend multiple millions of dollars in a campaign. Even $7,500 out of $1,000,000 is pretty negligible. They cannot buy much influence with that. It's less than 1%.

Probably the real impact comes from their ability to flood a TV market with their own "issue" ads.

[KelleyKramer]

6. It says they have already spent $400 million

I agree it's relatively pointless to note the direct contributions, that's just peanuts, the real money is what their PACs spend on TV ads, gotv, etc


.