Conservative Groups Spent $5 Million to Boost Republican Candidates in April

A pair of key conservative political action committees spent more than $5.3 million on various campaigns in April, according to new disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission.

On May 20, Americans For Prosperity Action Inc. and Club For Growth Action published monthly financial reports with the FEC.

The documents showed large support for a Republican candidate in the West Virginia governor’s race.

According to their filings, Americans For Prosperity raised about $2 million and spent about $4.4 million in April. The hybrid PAC closed the month with $36.7 million in cash on hand.

Meanwhile, Club For Growth brought in about $1.2 million and sent out about $8.7 million. The super PAC ended April with about $12.6 million in cash on hand.

Both PACs are associated with key conservative influence groups.

Americans for Prosperity Action Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit closely tied to conservative megadonor Charles Koch and his family’s business, Koch Industries Inc.

FEC records show that Koch Industries and Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, a group founded by Charles Koch, both gave the PAC $25 million in May 2023.

Club for Growth, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, calls itself a free-enterprise advocacy group.

Club for Growth Action is primarily financed by two conservative megadonors: Jeff Yass and Richard Uihlein.

According to FEC records, Mr. Yass sent Club for Growth Action $16 million in 2023, and Mr. Uihlein sent about $10 million.

According to watchdog group OpenSecrets, Mr. Yass and Mr. Uihlein are currently ranked as the largest and fourth-largest individual political spenders in the 2024 election cycle, respectively.

Nonprofit organizations with a 501 designation are often referred to as dark money groups because they’re not required to disclose their donors.

West Virginia Governor’s Race

In addition to its media spending, Club For Growth transferred more than $2.5 million to other PACs.

In April, the club sent about $2.2 million to Black Bear PAC Inc.

That super PAC, according to its website, is supporting West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, for governor.

Mr. Morrisey, who won the Mountain State’s Republican Party primary on May 14, will run against Democratic Party candidate Steve Williams in November.

Mr. Williams is the mayor of Huntington, West Virginia, the second-largest city in West Virginia.

According to an October 2023 release published by Black Bear PAC, the club is prepared to spend as much as $10 million to boost Mr. Morrisey’s campaign.

According to its most recent disclosure statement, published in April, almost all of the about $3.3 million the PAC raised in 2023 and 2024 came from Club For Growth. The PAC sent it about $3.2 million during that period.

The club also donated $300,000 to Protect Freedom PAC in April.

According to its website, the PAC was founded by supporters of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and his father, longtime Texas congressman Ron Paul.

According to FEC records, Protect Freedom is primarily financed by Mr. Yass. He sent the PAC $14 million between 2023 and 2024.

Races for Congress

The two conservative funds cranked up spending in April with media buys helping their favored candidates for federal office.

Club For Growth, according to its FEC filings, spent about $1.5 million to back two candidates and oppose two.

In April, the club supported Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Brian Jack.

Mr. Jack is a former Trump White House staffer running for the Republican spot in the contest for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District.

It went against Wendy Davis and Tim Smith.

Both candidates lost their Republican Party primary race to former Indiana congressman Marlin Stutzman on May 7.

Mr. Stutzman will run against Democratic Party candidate Kiley Adolph for Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District.

Americans For Prosperity spent much more, about $3.8 million, on a broader slate of candidates in April.

In Senate races, it is backing Republican challenger Bernie Moreno in Ohio and Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania.

It is also backing the most likely Republican candidates in Montana, Nevada, and Wisconsin: Tim Sheehy, Sam Brown, and Eric Hovde.

As for the House, it boosted Republican candidates Jeff Crank, Gabe Evans, and Jeff Hurd to represent districts in Colorado.

All of the candidates are participating in the state’s June 24 Republican primary.

Americans For Prosperity also backed Chuck Goodrich and Mike Speedy.

Both Republican candidates did not advance from Indiana’s May 7 Republican primary.

It supported Brad Knott in North Carolina.

Mr. Knott will run against Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District.

It buoyed Republican candidate Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Mackenzie will face Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

Finally, Americans For Prosperity helped West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore, a Republican, in his bid for the House.

Mr. Moore defeated the incumbent Rep. Alexander Mooney (R-Pa.) in the state’s May 14 Republican primary.

Mr. Moore will square off against retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Steven Wendelin to represent West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in November.