Scoop: Senate Republican super PAC smashes fundraising record
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The Senate GOP's top super PAC and affiliates have more than doubled their fundraising record for the first half of an off-year — bringing in $85 million, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Senate Leadership Fund is a campaign powerhouse for the GOP. But its new leaders want to shake things up after a decade of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his allies at the helm.
- This is the group's first fundraising release since Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took over as Senate GOP leader.
President Trump is more involved than ever, SLF executive director Alex Latcham told Axios in an interview.
- Latcham and former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) now run SLF after years under Steven Law, a close McConnell ally.
- "We're working with [the White House] to identify and vet Senate candidates," Latcham said, describing it as an asset "as we navigate some of these primaries."
- Discussions with the White House about 2026 come at a "regular cadence, whether it's in person, over the phone," he told Axios.
Zoom in: The group is planning to spend more money far ahead of the traditional blast after Labor Day of an election year.
- They have already started spending in Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, Alaska and Nebraska.
- They are planning an imminent Texas ad buy. SLF has backed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has been trailing his primary challenger Attorney General Ken Paxton in polls.
By the numbers: SLF and its affiliated group One Nation have raised over $85 million since the start of the year — far more than the $38 million raised over the same period in 2023, the group told Axios.
- Together they have $83 million cash on hand.
- SLF alone has $29 million on hand. That is three times as much as SLF had in 2023 and five times as much as in 2021, at the same point in the cycle.
Between the lines: Latcham gave credit to Thune's activity in fundraising for SLF and GOP candidates — both in D.C. and on the road.
- But he also cited the GOP majority and excitement around the administration.
- The team has also been targeting new donors.
- "Obviously, you've got the crypto community, which is more engaged in politics writ large," Latcham said, adding there are others who are more engaged with Trump in office.
What to watch: SLF plans to put more emphasis on streaming and digital ads to reach the modern electorate, including younger voters and "cord-cutters."
- Strategists are starting to map out how to reach voters who are solid Trump supporters, but are less likely to turn out in mid-term election years.
- They plan to coordinate that work with other outside groups and the White House.
The bottom line: "What will not change is that SLF will continue to be the preeminent outside group dedicated to, you know, keeping and expanding the Senate Republican majority, " Latcham said.
