Mike Johnson's top super PAC loses its leader
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is on the hunt to find a new leader for his outside super PAC, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: As outgoing president of the Congressional Leadership Fund, Dan Conston essentially runs a $200+ million company that needs to develop and execute a new business plan every two years.
- It's one of the top political jobs in Washington, but not an easy one.
- Candidates, consultants, and donors all have to be kept happy. Billionaires write the group big checks at exclusive retreats, but they also want some assurances that it's being well spent.
- Its leader must make strategic and tactical decisions on where to invest its resources with a simple goal in mind: Win more seats than the Democrats.
Driving the news: Johnson's team is considering several candidates to replace Conston, according to people familiar with the matter.
- Conston, who was installed at CLF by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, considering starting a new strategic consulting firm with other operatives in McCarthy's orbit. His exit was reported Monday by Politico.
- Conston could also stay on at CLF for a cycle as an adviser or a consultant.
- Conston and CLF declined to comment.
Zoom in: Johnson, who looks like he'll start this Congress down two seats from where Republicans began in 2023, will lean on CLF to provide air support for his incumbents, many of whom were outspent by Democrats in the 2024 cycle.
- Johnson will rely on Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) to run the National Republican Congressional Committee for another cycle.
Conston helped McCarthy come within a whisker of the House majority in 2020, picking up 13 seats in an election where President Trump lost both the popular and Electoral College vote.
- In 2022, Conston and McCarthy got across the line and picked up nine seats.
- In 2024, CLF, working with Johnson, appears to be on track to lose two seats but maintain the majority.
Zoom out: Super PACs, which can accept unlimited amount of "soft money," are growing more important in congressional and presidential races.
- CLF raised $232 million this cycle through mid-October, according to the FEC. That was slightly more than the $228 million raised by the NRCC.
