Key Conservative Group Spent $50.6 Million on Nikki Haley’s Failed Presidential Bid

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley arrives for a campaign rally at the Portland Elks Club in Portland, Maine, on March 3, 2024. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Two leading conservative political action committees spent more than $36.7 million on various federal races during the first quarter of 2024.

On April 20, the hybrid PAC Americans for Prosperity Action Inc. and super PAC Club for Growth Action filed public disclosure statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The filings revealed the races that are attracting the groups’ attention so far.

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.

At the end of March, Americans for Prosperity Action held about $39.1 million in cash on hand. Club for Growth Action retained about $20.1 million.

Presidential Race

Americans for Prosperity backed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s campaign for the White House, spending millions on the unsuccessful effort.

According to the FEC, Americans for Prosperity spent about $31.2 million to support Ms. Haley between November 2023 and February 2024. It also spent about $10 million to oppose former President Donald Trump and about $9.4 million against President Joe Biden between May 2023 and October 2023.

The presidential primary spending accounts for more than 80 percent of the about $62.2 million the PAC expended since the beginning of 2023.

Ms. Haley dropped out of the presidential race in March and has not endorsed President Trump. On April 15, the conservative Hudson Institute announced it hired her as the Walter P. Stern chair.

Senate Races

In 2024, both action funds are plowing money into what will likely be among the most competitive Senate seat races in the cycle—those in Indiana, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Americans for Prosperity is backing the Republican Party candidate in every race. Through February of the current election cycle, it spent about $3.7 million to help Tim Sheehy in Montana, Sam Brown in Nevada, and Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania.

Former President Donald Trump greets union workers at the construction site of the new J.P. Morgan Chase building in New York City, on April 25, 2024. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

According to its most recent filings, Americans for Prosperity spent about $766,000 in March and April to support Bernie Moreno.

Both Mr. Moreno and Mr. McCormick won their state primaries and will officially represent their party in November.

Mr. Sheehy and Mr. Brown are still awaiting primary elections but are considered the front-runners in their states.

Club for Growth focused on the Ohio and West Virginia races. Through February of the current election cycle, it spent about $4.2 million on those races.

U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, a Republican, speaks before former President Donald Trump takes the stage during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Club for Growth spent about $2.1 million against West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, who is running for the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). It allocated $1.82 million toward Mr. Moreno.

A smaller amount, $300,000, went toward Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.). Mr. Banks is the presumptive Republican nominee to replace Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

According to Club for Growth Action’s most recent FEC filing, in March, the PAC spent about $1.9 million against Matt Dolan, Mr. Moreno’s Republican primary opponent, during the final days of Ohio’s primary race.

Mr. Moreno received about $963,000 in support during the same period.

Nevada Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown speaks to the media after voting at Reno High School in Nev., on June 14, 2022. AP Photo/Tom R. Smedes

Major Donations

In the first three months of 2024, Club for Growth Action got another cash injection from its biggest benefactors. Mr. Yass, a cofounder of investment firm Susquehanna International Group, sent $4.5 million in March. Mr. Uihlein, the CEO of packaging company Uline, sent $1.5 million.

In March, Club for Growth received a $1 million donation from Ronald Cameron, the chairman of Delaware-based Mountaire Farms. Mountaire is one of the largest chicken processors in the United States. Mr. Cameron is a significant donor to Republican causes.

Another $1 million was sent to the club by Patrick Ryan and his wife, Shirley Ryan, who each donated $500,000 in January. Mr. Ryan, the founder of British professional services firm Aon PLC and the chairman and CEO of Ryan Speciality LLC, and his wife are both consistent donors to Republican causes, according to donor records maintained by OpenSecrets.