Koch-backed 'AFP Action' network to put its megabucks behind "not-Donald Trump" in GOP primaries (ETA: Haley)

[essentialsaltes]

Koch network plans to back a Republican – other than Donald Trump – in the 2024 presidential primary​

The deep-pocketed network associated with billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to throw its money and weight behind a single Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential primary – in a move that could significantly reshape the GOP field.

“The Republican Party is nominating bad candidates who are advocating for things that go against core American principles,” [AFP CEO] Seidel wrote. “And the American people are rejecting them.”
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/10/politics/pence-2024-social-conservatives/index.html
The memo does not mention Donald Trump, but an official with AFP Action confirmed to CNN that the network is not planning to support the former president’s White House bid.

The Koch decision to engage in the GOP primary – after sitting on the sidelines for the two most recent White House nomination fights – is likely to set off a scramble among Republican presidential contenders to win over the Kansas-based industrialist and the hundreds of wealthy donors who help finance his influential, free-market network.

AFP Action has not announced a budget for its 2024 political activity, but the network has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in previous election cycles, rivaling the financial reach of the Republican National Committee. Americans for Prosperity has permanent staff in 36 states and touts millions of grassroots activists across the country.

 

[iluvatar5150]

 

[mark46]

Yup, Koch is probably the #1 donor in the Republican Party.

As I said when discussing Haley, it is donors like Koch that will NOT allow Trump to win the nomination.

 

[SimplyMe]

Yup, Koch is probably the #1 donor in the Republican Party.

As I said when discussing Haley, it is donors like Koch that will NOT allow Trump to win the nomination.

Interestingly, I went to search and it appears, at least since the one brother died, that Koch is no longer in the top 100 of political donors. Going from the Open Secrets list of top political donors, these are the top ten Republican donors (their overall rank in parentheses): (2) Richard Ulhlein, Uline Inc., Lake Forest, IL, $84,115,039; (3) Kenneth C. Griffin, Citadel LLC, Chicago, IL, $72,621,100; (4) Jeffrey S & Janine Yass, Susquehanna International Group, Haverford, PA, $54,821,500; (5) Timothy Mellon, Retired, Saratoga, WY, $40,546,515; (7) Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone Group, New York, NY, $36,368,942; (9) Peter Thiel, Thiel Capital, San Francisco, CA, $32, 873,342; (10) Lawrence Ellison, Oracle Corp, Woodside, CA, $31,007,943; (12) Shirley W. Ryan, Ryan Specialty Group, Winnetka, IL, $28,197,500; (13) Diane Hendricks, Hendricks Holding Co, $25,724,500; (14) Sheldon G. & Miriam O. Addison, Las Vegas Sands/Adelson Drug Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, $25,065,900.

For contrast, the Koch contribution was $1,487,000; again, not listed in the top 100 of political donors.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Interestingly, I went to search and it appears, at least since the one brother died, that Koch is no longer in the top 100 of political donors.

I think that aspect is part of the OP:

The Koch decision to engage in the GOP primary – after sitting on the sidelines for the two most recent White House nomination fights

 

[mark46]

I think that aspect is part of the OP:

The Koch decision to engage in the GOP primary – after sitting on the sidelines for the two most recent White House nomination fights

yes

Many donors have dropped out, or have contributed much less with Trump as head of the party. Now, this may be a sign that some donors may have decided to be more active in trying to stop Trump candidates, and to promote traditional Republican candidates.

For me, the issue has been timing. When would the traditional Republicans and donors start to actively and openly fight with Trump and his supporters within the party? Obviously, that didn't happen in the 2020 cycle. There was some opposition in 2022, but not much. The 2022 election results made it clear that the TRP (Trump Republican Party) is a small minority party, and has little chance at winning the presidency, and could very well lose both the Senate and the House. Losing the Senate again because of poor Trump choices was just a step too far. McConnell warned the donors and the party. Now, the results are in, and McConnell will get support in his opposition to Trump candidates.
=============
These 8 Trump years have been very frustrating for the party of Reagan, Bush, Dole and McCain. The party was ready to easily beat Clinton in 2016 with Bush (traditional) or Rubio (a new direction). Trump intervened, and then Christie ended up giving Trump the nomination by embarrassing Rubio in a debate. Finally, the donors might have supported Clinton, but they made a political error. They didn't think that Clinton could lose to Trump.

Folks talk about the permanent changes in the Republican Party. NONSENSE! Trump has only been in control for 8 years. and the Democrats are very, very vulnerable as they deal with the internal fight for control of their party. It will be very difficult for the moderates, once Biden is gone. 2016 and 2020 COULD HAVE BEEN the time the Republican Party became the dominant US political party. Now, they must look to 2024 as transition year, and 2026 and 2028 as the cycles of change.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Koch network plans to back a Republican – other than Donald Trump – in the 2024 presidential primary​

The deep-pocketed network associated with billionaire Charles Koch is preparing to throw its money and weight behind a single Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential primary – in a move that could significantly reshape the GOP field.

The form of the Destructor has been chosen.

Influential Koch network backs Nikki Haley in GOP presidential primary​

“When we announced our decision to engage in our first ever Republican presidential primary, we made it clear that we’d be looking for a candidate who can turn the page on our political dysfunction – and win. It’s clear that candidate is Nikki Haley,” Siedel said Tuesday. “We can’t keep looking to the politicians of the past to fix the problems of today. Nikki Haley represents a new generation of leadership and offers a bold, positive vision for our future. AFP Action is proud to be endorsing her and we will be doing everything we can to help make her the next President of the United States.”

The effort will begin with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in support of Haley launching this week in all early and several Super Tuesday states, and the group touted its data capabilities – including a contact database with millions of voters – and its extensive grassroots reach.

 

[wing2000]

"When we announced our decision to engage in our first ever Republican presidential primary, we made it clear that we’d be looking for a candidate who can turn the page on our political dysfunction – and win."

This will be interesting to watch....

 

[Vambram]

Nikki Haley represents the establishment elites of the republican party. However, Ron DeSantis is a conservative and a far better choice than Haley. Also, DeSantis is not really part of the old elite establishment.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Nikki Haley represents the establishment elites of the republican party. However, Ron DeSantis is a conservative and a far better choice than Haley. Also, DeSantis is not really part of the old elite establishment.

Don't worry, Ron is looking for his own billionaires.

Ron DeSantis meets with potential GOP donors to new super PAC​

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is meeting Monday with potential donors to Fight Right, a newly formed super PAC that is backing his presidential campaign, amid tensions with another super PAC [Never Back Down] that culminated last week in the departure of the group’s chief executive.

While campaigns are limited by federal law to raising no more than $3,300 from individuals for the primary race, super PACs have no such restrictions.

Last week, Fight Right began airing attack ads aimed at rising presidential rival Nikki Haley, shaking up the DeSantis operation late in the race. Never Back Down had already run its own ads against Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations, but took them off the air recently amid worries that the negative spots were backfiring on DeSantis, given how closely he is associated with that super PAC.

 

[Hank77]

Nikki Haley represents the establishment elites of the republican party. However, Ron DeSantis is a conservative and a far better choice than Haley. Also, DeSantis is not really part of the old elite establishment.

IMO, DeSantis has played too much the authoritarian in FL trying to act tough like Trump. The party and the US don't need a president who starts battles with large companies like Disney because they, using their 1st Amendment rights, disagree with him. Presidents have to be able to deal with those instances without starting a battle that hurts the taxpayers.

 

[wing2000]

Nikki Haley represents the establishment elites of the republican party.

Which of Haley's positions would be considered representative of the "establishment elites"?

 

[Pommer]

Which of Haley's positions would be considered representative of the "establishment elites"?

She’s a “stealth establishment elite”?

 

[durangodawood]

Which of Haley's positions would be considered representative of the "establishment elites"?

Its a "vibe", not a policy agenda.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Influential Koch network backs Nikki Haley in GOP presidential primary
“AFP Action is proud to be endorsing her and we will be doing everything we can to help make her the next President of the United States.”

'I’ll vote for Biden': Top Koch group official rebels against Nikki Haley endorsement​

Chris Maidment, who has been AFP's director of grassroots operations in New Hampshire since March of this year according to his LinkedIn profile , blasted the Koch-funded group's announcement that it would be backing Haley ... Maidment indicated he may lose his job over his post, but held fast in his position that the group had lost its "principles" and that he would not be casting his ballot for the former South Carolina governor due to her foreign policy positions.

"If it comes down to it, I'll vote for [President Joe] Biden over Haley 10 times out of 10, because he's less of a threat to our country."

 

[mark46]

Yup, Koch is probably the #1 donor in the Republican Party.

As I said when discussing Haley, it is donors like Koch that will NOT allow Trump to win the nomination.

or the election if he is nominated

 

[mark46]

Nikki Haley represents the establishment elites of the republican party. However, Ron DeSantis is a conservative and a far better choice than Haley. Also, DeSantis is not really part of the old elite establishment.

We can talk again after Iowa and NH. DeSantis is toast.

 

[Vambram]

We can talk again after Iowa and NH. DeSantis is toast.

In my opinion, so is Haley.

 

[mark46]

'I’ll vote for Biden': Top Koch group official rebels against Nikki Haley endorsement​

Chris Maidment, who has been AFP's director of grassroots operations in New Hampshire since March of this year according to his LinkedIn profile , blasted the Koch-funded group's announcement that it would be backing Haley ... Maidment indicated he may lose his job over his post, but held fast in his position that the group had lost its "principles" and that he would not be casting his ballot for the former South Carolina governor due to her foreign policy positions.

"If it comes down to it, I'll vote for [President Joe] Biden over Haley 10 times out of 10, because he's less of a threat to our country."The nomination

In my opinion, so is Haley.

That might very well be the case. However, as far as the nomination, Haley is most likely of the Republican candidates to beat Trump.

If Trump wins the nomination, there is lots more that Koch and other donors can do to make it less likely that Trump wins the general.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The form of the Destructor has been chosen.

Influential Koch network backs Nikki Haley in GOP presidential primary​

Nikki Haley Aims for Second Place in Iowa With Koch Group’s $70 Million​