Ryan-aligned super PAC ups spending on House races
In another sign that Republican donors are willing to spend big to keep their House majority, a super PAC aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced Tuesday that it would spend $10.7 million on House contests.
That brings the Congressional Leadership Fund’s spending to $20.7 million this cycle — nearly double the $11.6 million the group spent in the entire 2014 midterm cycle.
“CLF is spending more than it ever has in a general election — and we plan to spend more,” Mike Shields, the group’s president, said in a statement.
The investment will bring the CLF’s focus to 15 congressional races total. The most money in this round of advertising — a total of $2 million — will hit the Las Vegas market, where Republicans are defending an open House seat. While there is an open seat in one district, the super PAC says they have not yet determined which district in Las Vegas that money will go to.
The news of increased spending follows a USA TODAY analysis that found many wealthy Republican donors increasingly focused on downballot races rather than backing their party’s nominee, Donald Trump.
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