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Politics & Elections

Who Are the 2018 Koch Candidates?

The disclosed spending is only part of a much larger electoral operation.

By
David H. Koch at the Lincoln Center Spring Gala at Alice Tully Hall on May 2, 2017, in New York City.

At the 2018 Koch Donor Summit in January, the network of billionaires convened by Charles and David Koch announced that it plans to spend $400 million in the 2018 midterm election cycle, close to double the amount spent in the 2014 midterms and a 60 percent increase over the 2016 election cycle. The Kochs had planned to spend $900 million in the 2016 election cycle, but ended up spending less after Trump won the Republican nomination. “We will be spending more than any midterm in our network history,” Americans for Prosperity’s president Tim Phillips said.

“My challenge to all of us is to increase the scale and effectiveness of this network by an order of magnitude, by another tenfold on top of all the growth and progress we’ve already made,” Charles Koch said to more than 500 attendees, who each donated at least $100,000 in 2017.

That “progress,” detailed in documents revealed by The Intercept, includes backing out of the Paris Climate Accord, undoing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan, getting Neil Gorsuch confirmed to SCOTUS, and Trump’s massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthy.

The Kochs’ network has already spent 35-40 percent of the $400 million pledged, according to Phillips. This includes money spent on policy campaigns and state-level efforts. Americans for Prosperity is “active” in 36 states.

A close examination of campaign finance disclosures from the Koch Industries Political Action Committee (KochPAC) shows that Team Koch has identified, and is investing heavily in, candidates for the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. To date, all but two of the Koch candidates are Republican.

The Kochs spend much of their money on i360, its data analytics company, which compiles information on the “199 million active voters,” and on its array of front groups, including Americans for Prosperity, Libre Initiative, Concerned Veterans for America, Generation Opportunity, and Freedom Partners Action Fund. Koch Industries also attempts to indoctrinate its 50,000 employees on whom and what to vote for or against.

During the 2016 election cycle, some of these groups endorsed candidates, but none have come out with endorsements to date for this cycle.

The disclosed spending of the Kochs through their KochPAC is only part of a much larger electoral operation.

Without further ado, below are the Koch Candidates of 2018. Stay tuned to ExposedByCMD for more on the Kochs’ electoral activities and the Koch Candidates 2018 page on SourceWatch for regular updates between now and the November election.

US House of Representatives

Alabama

Arizona

  • Rep. Andy Biggs (R-05): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Biggs for Congress.
  • Rep. David Schweikert (R-06) $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Friends of David Schweikert.
  • Former State Sen. Debbie Lesko (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Debbie Lesko for Congress. She ran for the 8th District seat and won the seat on April 24, 2018.

Arkansas

  • Rep. Steve Womack (R-03): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Womack for Congress Committee.
  • Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-04): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Westerman for Congress.

California

  • Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-01): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to the Doug LaMalfa Committee.
  • Rep. Tom McClintock (R-04): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to McClintock for Congress.
  • Rep. Jeff Denham (R-10): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Denham for Congress. He also received $10,000 from KochPAC for his Jeff PAC.
  • Rep. Jim Costa (R-16): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Jim Costa for Congress.
  • Rep. David Valadao (R-21): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Valadao for Congress.
  • Rep. Devin Nunes (R-22): $6,500 contributed by KochPAC to the Devin Nunes Campaign Committee.
  • Rep. Steve Knight (R-25): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Steve Knight for Congress.
  • Rep. Mimi Walters (R-45): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Walters for Congress.
  • Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-48): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Rohrabacher for Congress.

Colorado

  • Rep. Scott Tipton (R-03): $7,000 contributed by KochPAC to VoteTipton.com. Tipton also received $5,000 from KochPAC to his Taking An Independent Perspective Together For Our Nation PAC.
  • Rep. Ken Buck (R-04): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Buck for Colorado.
  • Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-05): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Lamborn for Congress.
  • Rep. Mike Coffman (R-06): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Coffman for Congress 2018.

Florida

  • Rep. Ted Yoho (R-03): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Ted Yoho for Congress.
  • Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-06): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Ron DeSantis for Florida. KochPAC also contributed $5,000 to DeSantis’s First Principles Fund.
  • Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-16): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Vern Buchanan for Congress.

Georgia

  • Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-01): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Buddy Carter for Congress.
  • Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-03): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Drew Ferguson for Congress.
  • Rep. Karen Handel (R-06): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Handel for Congress.
  • Rep. Rob Woodall (R-07): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Rob Woodall for Congress.
  • Rep. Austin Scott (R-08): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Austin Scott for Congress. He also received another $5,000 from KochPAC for his WellsPAC.
  • Rep. Doug Collins (R-09): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Collins for Congress.
  • Rep. Jody Hice (R-10): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Jody Hice for Congress.
  • Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-11): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Loudermilk for Congress.
  • Rep. Rick Allen (R-12): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Rick W. Allen For Congress.
  • Rep. Tom Graves (R-14): $7,500 contributed by KochPAC to Graves for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Georgia PAC.

Illinois

  • Rep. Peter Roskam (R-06): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Republican Operation To Secure And Keep A Majority (ROSKAM PAC). He also received another $9,000 from KochPAC to his Roskam For Congress Committee.
  • Rep. Mike Bost (R-12): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Mike Bost for Congress Committee.
  • Rep. Rodney Davis (R-13): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Rodney for Congress.
  • Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Randy Hultgren for Congress.
  • Rep. John Shimkus (R-15): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Volunteers for Shimkus. He also received $5,000 for his John S Fund.
  • Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-16): $500 contributed by KochPAC to Kinzinger for Congress.
  • Rep. Darin LaHood (R-18): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to LaHood for Congress.

Indiana

  • Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-02): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Walorski for Congress.
  • Rep. Jim Banks (R-03): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Jim Banks for Congress.
  • Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-08): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Bucshon for Congress.
  • Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-09): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Trey for Congress.

Iowa

  • Rep. Rod Blum (R-01): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Blum for Congress.
  • Rep. Steve King (R-04): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to King for Congress.

Kansas

Kentucky

  • Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-02): $7,500 contributed by KochPAC to Guthrie for Congress.
  • Rep. Thomas Massie (R-04): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Thomas Massie for Congress.
  • Rep. Andy Barr (R-06): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Andy Barr for Congress, Inc.

Louisiana

  • Rep. Steve Scalise (R-01): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Scalise for Congress. He also received another $10,000 from KochPAC for his The Eye of the Tiger Political Action Committee. Scalise also received $85,000 from KochPAC for his Scalise Leadership Fund.
  • Rep. Mike Johnson (R-04): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Mike Johnson for Louisiana.
  • Rep. Garret Graves (R-06): $5,500 contributed by KochPAC to Garret Graves for Congress.

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

  • Rep. Jack Bergman (R-01): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Bergmanforcongress.
  • Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-02): $4,500 contributed by KochPAC to Huizenga for Congress.
  • Rep. Fred Upton (R-06): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Upton For All Of Us.
  • Rep. Tim Walberg (R-07): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Walberg for Congress.
  • Rep. Mike Bishop (R-08): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Mike Bishop for Congress.
  • Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-10): $2,000 contributed by KochPAC to Friends of Paul Mitchell.

Minnesota

  • Rep. Jason Lewis (R-02): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Jason Lewis for Congress.
  • Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-03): $8,500 contributed by KochPAC to Friends of Erik Paulsen. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his ICE PAC.
  • Rep. Tom Emmer (R-06): $7,000 contributed by KochPAC to Emmer for Congress.
  • Rep. Collin Peterson (D-07): $9,500 contributed by KochPAC to Peterson for Congress. He also received $3,500 from KochPAC for his Valley Political Action Committee.
  • Pete Stauber (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Pete Stauber for Congress Volunteer Committee. He is running for the 8th District seat.

Missouri

  • Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-03): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Blaine for Congress.
  • Rep. Billy Long (R-07): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Billy Long for Congress. Long also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Believe in Life Liberty Yourself, AKA Billy PAC.
  • Rep. Jason Smith (R-08): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Jason Smith for Congress.

Montana

  • Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-AL): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Greg for Montana.

Nebraska

New Jersey

  • Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-03): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Tom MacArthur for Congress.
  • Rep. Leonard Lance (R-07): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Lance for Congress.

New York

  • Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-01): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Zeldin for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Lee PAC.
  • Rep. Dan Donovan (R-11): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Donovan for Congress.
  • Rep. John Faso (R-19): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Faso for Congress.
  • Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-21): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Elise for Congress.
  • Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-22): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Claudia Tenney for Congress.

North Carolina

  • Rep. George Holding (R-02): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to George Holding for Congress.
  • Rep. David Rouzer (R-07): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to David Rouzer for Congress.
  • Rep. Richard Hudson (R-08): $8,000 contributed by KochPAC to Hudson for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his First in Freedom PAC.
  • Rep. Pittenger for Congress (R-09): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Pittenger for Congress.
  • Rep. Mark Meadows (R-11): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Meadows for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his House Freedom Fund.
  • Rep. Ted Budd (R-13): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Ted Budd for Congress.

North Dakota

  • Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-AL): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Cramer for Congress. KochPAC also contributed $5,000 to Cramer’s Badlands PAC. Cramer will not be seeking reelection, as he is running for US Senate instead.

Ohio

  • Rep. Steve Chabot (R-01): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Steve Chabot for Congress.
  • Rep. Jim Jordan (R-04): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Jim Jordan for Congress.
  • Rep. Bob Latta (R-05): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Latta for Congress.
  • Rep. Bill Johnson (R-06): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Johnson for Congress.
  • Rep. Steve Stivers (R-15): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Support To Ensure Victory Everywhere PAC. He also received $5,000 for Stivers for Congress.

Oklahoma

  • Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-02): $8,000 contributed by KochPAC to Mullin for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Boots Political Action Committee.
  • Rep. Steve Russell (R-05): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Steve Russell for Congress.

Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • Rep. Mike Kelly (R-03): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Mike Kelly for Congress. He also received $10,000 from KochPAC for his Keep America Rolling PAC.
  • Rep. Scott Perry (R-04): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Patriots for Perry. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his First Capital PAC.
  • Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-05): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Greater Tomorrow PAC. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for Friends of Glenn Thompson.
  • Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-12): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Rothfus for Congress. Rothfus also received$10,000 from KochPAC for his Relight America PAC.
  • Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-16): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Smucker for Congress.

South Carolina

  • Rep. Mark Sanford (R-01): $8,000 contributed by KochPAC to Sanford for Congress.
  • Rep. Joe Wilson (R-02): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Joe Wilson for Congress.
  • Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-03): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Jeff Duncan for Congress. He also received $5,000 for his Jobs, Energy and Our Founding Fathers PAC.
  • Dan Hamilton (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Dan Hamilton for Congress for his campaign for the District 4 seat.
  • Rep. Ralph Norman (R-05): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Ralph Norman for Congress.

Texas

  • Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-01): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Louie Gohmert for Congress Committee.
  • Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-04): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Ratcliffe for Congress.
  • Bunni Pounds (R): $5,000 from KochPAC to Bunni Pounds for Congress for her campaign for the 5th District seat. She lost in the May 22 primary.
  • Rep. John Culberson (R-07): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Culberson for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Let Texans Run Texas PAC.
  • Rep. Michael McCaul (R-10): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to McCaul for Congress.
  • Rep. Mike Conaway (R-11): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Conservative Opportunities for a New America PAC. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC to Conaway for Congress.
  • Rep. Randy Weber (R-14): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Weber for Congress.
  • Rep. Bill Flores (R-17): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Bill Flores for Congress.
  • Rep. Pete Olson (R-22): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Olson for Congress Committee. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Freedom Matters PAC.
  • Rep. Will Hurd (R-23): $7,000 contributed by KochPAC to Hurd for Congress. He also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Having Unwavering Resolve and Determination PAC.
  • Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-24): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Kenny Marchant for Congress.
  • Rep. Michael Burgess (R-26): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to Michael Burgess for Congress.
  • Bech Bruun (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Bech Bruun for Congress. Bruun is running for the 27th District seat. Bruun lost the primary on May 22.
  • Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-28): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to his Texans for Henry Cuellar Congressional Campaign.
  • Rep. Pete Sessions (R-32): $6,000 contributed by KochPAC to Pete Sessions for Congress, and another $10,000to his People For Enterprise Trade And Economic Growth (PETE PAC).
  • Rep. Brian Babin (R-36): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Dr. Brian Babin for Congress.

Utah

  • Rep. John Curtis (R-03): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Curtis for Congress.
  • Rep. Mia Love (R-04): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Friends of Mia Love.

Virginia

  • Rep. Scott Taylor (R-02): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Scott Taylor for Congress.
  • Rep. Tom Garrett (R-05): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Tom Garrett for Congress.
  • Rep. Dave Brat (R-07): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Friends of Dave Brat. Brat also received $5,000 from KochPAC for his Building and Restoring America Together PAC.
  • Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-09): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Morgan Griffith for Congress. He also received$5,000 from KochPAC for his Fightin’ Ninth PAC.
  • Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Comstock For Congress.

Washington

  • Dino Rossi (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Dino for Congress. He is running for the 8th District seat, with Rep. Dave Reichert retiring.

West Virginia

  • Rep. David McKinley (R-01): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to McKinley for Congress.
  • Rep. Alex Mooney (R-02): $2,000 contributed by KochPAC to Alex Mooney for Congress.

Wisconsin

US Senate

Arizona

  • Rep. Martha McSally (R-02): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to McSally for Senate. McSally received another $7,500 from KochPAC for McSally for Senate through the Senators Classic Committee.

Colorado

  • Sen. Cory Gardner (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Project West Political Action Committee.

Florida

  • Rick Scott (R): $2,500 contributed by KochPAC to Rick Scott for Florida, his US Senate campaign.

Georgia

Kansas

  • Sen. Pat Roberts (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Preserving America’s Traditions PAC.
  • Sen. Jerry Moran (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Free State PAC.

Louisiana

  • Sen. Bill Cassidy (R): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Continuing America’s Strength and Security PAC.

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

  • Sen. Ben Sasse (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Sensible American Solutions Supporting Everyone PAC.

North Dakota

Ohio

  • Rep. Jim Renacci (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC directly to Renacci for Senate, and another $7,500 from KochPAC through the Senators Classic Committee.

Oklahoma

  • Sen. James Lankford (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Leadership And Accountability Are National Keys PAC.
  • Sen. Jim Inhofe (R): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Fund for a Conservative Future.

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

  • Sen. Mike Rounds (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Peter Norbeck Leadership PAC.

Tennessee

  • Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-07): $10,000 contributed by KochPAC to Marsha Blackburn for Congress. She also received $10,000 from KochPAC for her Making A Responsible Stand For Households In America PAC.

Texas

  • Sen. John Cornyn (R): $1,000 contributed by KochPAC to his Alamo PAC.
  • Sen. Ted Cruz (R): $7,000 contributed by KochPAC directly to Ted Cruz for Senate, and another $2,000 through the 2018 Senators Classic Committee.

West Virginia

  • Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to her Wild And Wonderful PAC.
  • Sen. Patrick Morrisey (R): $5,000 contributed by KochPAC to Morrisey for Senate.

Wyoming

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