WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans are worried that a corporate setback fueled by the deadly Capitol uprising could shrink a major cash-flow campaign and hamper the party’s prospects of regaining the Senate in the next election.
The GOP is already facing a difficult Senate card in 2022, when 14 Democratic seats and 20 Republicans will be on the ballot. That includes at least two open seats that Republicans will defend due to the resignations of GOP senators Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Burr of North Carolina.
But some in the party say the problem could be bigger than the card. Eight Republican senators voted to reject the election for President-elect Joe Biden, even after the Capitol was looted by a crowd of Donald Trump supporters urged by the president to stop Congress from confirming Biden’s victory. Five people died in the chaos, including a Capitol police officer.
Accusations were swift, with more than a dozen corporate giants – including AT&T, Nike, Comcast, Dow, Marriott, Walmart and Verizon – vowing to withhold donations to Republican lawmakers who voted to win the Arizona or Pennsylvania election. to reject. One of the legislators, Senator Rick Scott, is the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a position that makes him the public face of the Senate’s Republican fundraising efforts.
“This is the crux of the matter: is it a storm blowing, or … is the challenge of (Biden)’s election college a scarlet ‘A’? ” said Republican donor Dan Eberhart, who has contributed at least $ 115,000 to Senate Republican efforts over the past few years.
The lost contributions are not only disastrous. Political action committees run by corporations and industry groups are limited to allocating $ 5,000 to one candidate per year, a bit of the typical fundraiser for most Senate candidates.
But two senior Republican strategists involved in the Senate races say the cumulative effect of the companies’ decisions could have a greater impact.
Both strategists, who have spoken out about the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party talks, say companies that have suspended political donations are also sending a powerful signal to their managers, board members and employees to whom they should donate. And with Scott at the helm of the NRSC, it could affect the committee’s cash flow, they said.
In addition, other pillars of GOP fundraising – including the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association and groups affiliated with the Koch brothers – can no longer count on robust financial support.
The NRA announced on Friday that it had filed for bankruptcy after years of cunning spending and insider trading by top leaders. The Chamber of Commerce, which angered some Republicans when it recently began donating to Democrats, announced this week that it would withhold contributions from some Republicans over their actions. And also the Koch network has announced that it will investigate who it is giving to the uprising, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
“There are some members who will forfeit the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce through their actions,” Neil Bradley, the chamber’s chief policy officer, said this week. “Our PAC will continue to support the candidates who show the kind of commitment to government and democratic norms and our priorities.”
What’s more, one of the most influential Republican mega-donors, Sheldon Adelson, has passed away in recent days. This puts more pressure on the NRSC and Senate’s leading Republican outside group, the Senate Leadership Fund, to cover the difference.
Even before last week’s violence, Republican censors Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri were furious about leading efforts to challenge Biden’s victory. Since the assault on the Capitol, both have received even worse criticism from editors and influential donors, including calls to resign. Both are considered likely 2024 candidates in the White House.
Then there’s Scott, a wealthy businessman and former Florida governor. He also voted to object to Biden’s victory.
“Daily reminder that Senate Republicans have chosen one of the handful of senators who supported the great lie after death and destruction in the Capitol to be their political leader,” the former Missouri Sen. tweeted. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat expelled by Hawley. “Rick Scott is at the head of the organization trying to pick Rs.”
Scott’s new position as chairman of the NRSC is widely seen as a prelude to a potential run in 2024 and which will bring him into close contact with a national network of the Republican Party’s largest donors.
On Wednesday, Scott released a video message after taking over the NRSC, which was heavy on his biography and light on his plan to help Republicans win. This has angered some Republicans, who believe Scott took over the NRSC to build a national donor network for an expected presidential bid, according to three Republican strategists.
‘I won four nationwide elections. All the races were close. In the process, I raised a lot of money and spent my own fortune, ”Scott said in the video. “I can say this with confidence: I will never ask a potential donor to contribute more than I have already given.”
In a statement, Chris Hartline, an NRSC spokesman and assistant to the senator, said Scott is the party’s’ best fundraiser ‘and the committee has’ no interest in dealing with nonsense from DC consultants who have no idea what they are not talking about. ”
“Senator Scott was clear that if people want higher taxes, more regulation, more government and nationalized health care, they should feel free to give it to Democrats,” Hartline said.
Some say it is too early to know whether the corporate setback will really hurt Republicans. They note that this is only a period where only elections have taken place, but there are few fundraising activities. And some are confident that, as Washington comes under united Democratic control, business groups will once again find a common cause with Republicans.
“A lot of this speech is premature and short-sighted,” said Scott Reed, a longtime Republican strategist. A mass re-regulation takes over Congress and the White House. This is a decision that many will regret by midsummer. ”
The eight GOP senators who voted to confirm objections to the Electoral College were Cruz, Hawley, Scott, Cindy Hyde Smith of Mississippi, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming.
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Associated Press author Alan Fram contributed to this report.