Congressional Leadership Fund

Basic facts
Location:| Washington, D.C.
Type:| Super PAC
Affiliation:| Republican
Year founded:| 2011
Website:| Official website

The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) is a Republican super PAC founded in October 2011 to "support candidates who promote the values of the center right majority." The organization's website says that the group is "exclusively dedicated to protecting and strengthening the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives."[1]

## Contents

* 1 Background
* 2 Work
* 2.1 2024 elections
* 2.2 2022 elections
* 2.3 2020 elections
* 2.4 2017 elections
* 2.5 2016 elections
* 2.6 2014 elections
* 2.6.1 Endorsed candidates
* 2.6.2 Targeted candidates
* 2.6.3 Expenditures
* 2.7 2012 elections
* 2.7.1 Endorsed candidates
* 2.7.2 Targeted candidates
* 2.7.3 Expenditures
* 2.7.4 Campaign advertisements
* 3 Finances
* 4 Legal status
* 5 Noteworthy events
* 5.1 Club for Growth and Congressional Leadership Fund primary spending agreement (2022)
* 6 Recent news
* 7 External links
* 8 Footnotes

## Background[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund is a PAC associated with Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).[2] According to Politico, when the Congressional Leadership Fund was formed in 2011, it was informally known as the "Boehner PAC," as it was generally associated with former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio).[3]

The organization supports Republicans generally in the interests of maintaining a party majority in the U.S. House. It's initial leadership was linked to the Republican Party; CLF's first president, Brian Walsh, was the political director of the National Republican Congressional Committee before joining the super PAC.[4][5] In 2012, CLF Board Member Vin Weber told Minnesota Public Radio, "It's important to also maintain some breadth to the Republican message because there are places in the country where a very conservative Republican simply can't compete and a truly national party has to be able to be at least somewhat competitive everywhere."[4]

The CLF has a related 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, the American Action Network.

## Work[edit]

Super PACs

* * *

Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia.

As an organization designed to only make independent expenditures, the Congressional Leadership Fund purchases advertising time. The ads that the organization runs either support or oppose candidates based on how they align with the super PAC's mission of maintaining a Republican majority in the U.S. House. In a 2014 report, the Congressional Leadership Fund noted that the group had three tactics for their advertising campaigns. They focused on advertising in October, they forced House Democrats to move money away from gaining seats in order to protect incumbents being challenged by CLF, and they spent on races they felt Republicans could hold in the future.[6]

### 2024 elections[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund released a list of 20 endorsees as part of its Trailblazers Fund on April 3, 2024.[7]

CLF Trailblazers Fund endorsements, 2024

District | Candidate
Alaska's At-large | Nancy Dahlstrom
California's 9th | Kevin Lincoln II
California's 47th | Scott Baugh
Colorado's 8th | Gabe Evans
Connecticut's 5th | George Logan
Illinois' 17th | Joseph G. McGraw
Indiana's 1st | Randy Niemeyer
Kansas' 3rd | Prasanth Reddy
Maine's 2nd | Austin Theriault
Michigan's 7th | Tom Barrett
Minnesota's 2nd | Joe Teirab
North Carolina's 1st | Laurie Buckhout
New Mexico's 2nd | Yvette Herrell
New York's 18th | Alison Esposito
Ohio's 1st | Orlando Sonza
Ohio's 9th | Derek Merrin
Ohio's 13th | Kevin Coughlin
Pennsylvania's 9th | Rob Bresnahan Jr.
Pennsylvania's 17th | Rob Mercuri
Virginia's 7th | Derrick Anderson

### 2022 elections[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund released the following list of its Trailblazers Fund-endorsed candidates on January 5, 2022.[8]

CLF Trailblazers Fund endorsements, 2022

District | Candidate
Arizona's 6th | Juan Ciscomani
Illinois' 17th | Esther Joy King
Kansas' 3rd | Amanda Adkins
Maine's 2nd | Bruce Poliquin
Montana's 1st | Ryan Zinke
New Jersey's 7th | Thomas Kean Jr.
Texas' 8th | Morgan Luttrell
Texas' 15th | Monica De La Cruz
Texas' 38th | Wesley Hunt
Virginia's 2nd | Jennifer Kiggans
Wisconsin's 3rd | Derrick Van Orden

### 2020 elections[edit]

On March 5, 2019, the Congressional Leadership Fund announced the following 55 targeted districts for the 2020 election season. The organization identified 31 Trump country seats within districts Trump carried in the 2016 presidential election and 24 opportunity districts composed of primarily suburban communities.[9]

Congressional Leadership Fund Trump Country Targets, 2020

District | Incumbent
Arizona's 1st | Tom O'Halleran
Georgia's 6th | Lucy McBath
Iowa's 1st | Abby Finkenauer
Iowa's 2nd | Dave Loebsack
Iowa's 3rd | Cindy Axne
Illinois' 14th | Lauren Underwood
Illinois' 17th | Cheri Bustos
Maine's 2nd | Jared Golden
Michigan's 8th | Elissa Slotkin
Michigan's 11th | Haley Stevens
Minnesota's 2nd | Angie Craig
Minnesota's 7th | Collin Peterson
Nevada's 3rd | Susie Lee
New Hampshire's 1st | Chris Pappas
New Jersey's 2nd | Jeff Van Drew
New Jersey's 3rd | Andrew Kim
New Jersey's 5th | Josh Gottheimer
New Jersey's 11th | Mikie Sherrill
New York's 11th | Max Rose
New York's 18th | Sean Patrick Maloney
New York's 19th | Antonio Delgado
New York's 22nd | Anthony Brindisi
New Mexico's 2nd | Xochitl Torres Small
Oklahoma's 5th | Kendra Horn
Pennsylvania's 8th | Matt Cartwright
Pennsylvania's 17th | Conor Lamb
South Carolina's 1st | Joe Cunningham
Utah's 4th | Ben McAdams
Virginia's 2nd | Elaine Luria
Virginia's 7th | Abigail Spanberger
Wisconsin's 3rd | Ron Kind

Congressional Leadership Fund Opportunity District Targets, 2020

District | Incumbent
Arizona's 2nd | Ann Kirkpatrick
California's 10th | Josh Harder
California's 21st | TJ Cox
California's 25th | Katie Hill
California's 39th | Gil Cisneros
California's 45th | Katie Porter
California's 48th | Harley Rouda
California's 49th | Mike Levin
Colorado's 6th | Jason Crow
Florida's 7th | Stephanie Murphy
Florida's 13th | Charlie Crist
Florida's 26th | Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Florida's 27th | Donna Shalala
Illinois' 6th | Sean Casten
Kansas' 3rd | Sharice Davids
Minnesota's 3rd | Dean Phillips
Nevada's 4th | Steven Horsford
New Jersey's 7th | Tom Malinowski
Oregon's 4th | Peter DeFazio
Pennsylvania's 7th | Susan Wild
Texas' 7th | Lizzie Pannill Fletcher
Texas' 32nd | Colin Allred
Virginia's 10th | Jennifer Wexton
Washington's 8th | Kim Schrier

### 2017 elections[edit]

In May 2017, the Congressional Leadership Fund began airing advertisements targeting Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate in a special election to represent Georgia's 6th Congressional District. The group announced that it had purchased $6.5 million in advertising leading up to the election.[10] One ad attacked Ossoff’s campaign contributions from California, claiming, “California is the leading funder of the Jon Ossoff campaign.”[11] The CLF had spent $7 million in independent expenditures in the race as of June 13. According to a June 2017 Roll Call article, the race for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District became, as of that time, the most expensive U.S. House race in history.[12]

### 2016 elections[edit]

In August 2016, Politico reported that the CLF had planned $10 million in expenditures to begin in August, earlier than the organization typically announced its expenditures. The site reported, "The spending includes $7.4 million for TV ads in nine districts. About $3.4 million of the $10 million total will go toward efforts to pick up seats currently held by Democrats, and $1.5 million will be used to initiate GOP ground games in California and New York."[13] According to Politico, the ad buys were set to begin in October, aiming to support the campaigns of:[13]

* Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.)
* Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
* John Katko (R-N.Y.)
* Will Hurd (R-Texas)
* Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.)
* David Young (R-Iowa)
* Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.)
* Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.)
* Steve Knight (R-Calif.)

### 2014 elections[edit]

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $10,098,748 on the 2014 elections.[14]

#### Endorsed candidates[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund endorsed the following candidates in the 2014 elections:[14]

* Lynn Jenkins (KS-2)
* Martha McSally (AZ-2)
* Lee Terry (NE-2)
* Barbara Comstock (VA-10)
* Bruce Poliquin (ME-02)
* Bob Dold (IL-10)
* Mike Coffman (CO-06)

#### Targeted candidates[edit]

The Congressional Leadership opposed the following candidates in 2014:[14]

* Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
* Ron Barber (AZ-2)
* John Foust (VA-10)
* Pete Gallego (TX-23)
* Ami Bera (CA-07)
* Brad Schneider (IL-10)
* Gwen Graham (FL-02)
* Scott Peters (CA-52)
* Seth Moulton (MA-06)
* William Enyart (IL-12)
* Collin Peterson (MN-02)
* Julia Brownley (CA-26)
* Andrew Romanoff (CO-06)
* Brad Ashford (NE-02)
* Emily Cain (ME-02)
* Blaine Richardson (ME-02)
* Tim Bishop (NY-01)
* Erin Bilbray (NV-03)

#### Expenditures[edit]

In the 2014 elections the Congressional Leadership Fund spent a grand total of $10,098,748, the top ten of it in opposition of Democratic candidates.[14]

Top 10 largest Congressional Leadership Fund expenditures in 2014[14]

Candidate  | Party  | State  | Office  | Total  | For  | Against  | Desired Result
Carol Shea-Porter |  | NH | House | $1,551,903 | $0 | $1,551,903 |

Ron Barber |  | AZ | House | $1,225,196 | $0 | $1,225,196 |

John Foust |  | VA | House | $1,108,120 | $0 | $1,108,120 |

Pete Gallego |  | TX | House | $1,047,902 | $0 | $1,047,902 |

Ami Bera |  | CA | House | $972,804 | $0 | $972,804 |

Brad Schneider |  | IL | House | $940,737 | $0 | $940,737 |

Gwen Graham |  | FL | House | $555,969 | $0 | $555,969 |

Scott Peters |  | CA | House | $512,797 | $0 | $512,797 |

Seth Moulton |  | MA | House | $494,832 | $0 | $494,832 |

William Enyart |  | IL | House | $472,581 | $0 | $472,581 |

### 2012 elections[edit]

According to the Sunlight Foundation, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $9,450,237 on the 2012 elections. Of those funds, 58 percent achieved the desired result, based on Sunlight Foundation analysis.[15] Open Secrets also analyzed the success of 2012 general election cycle spending:[16]

The success rate of Congressional Leadership Fund's 2012 spending.

#### Endorsed candidates[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund spent no money in support of candidates in the 2012 elections:[17]

#### Targeted candidates[edit]

The Congressional Leadership opposed the following candidates in 2012:[17]

* Betty Sutton (OH-16)
* Pete Gallego (TX-23)
* Kathy Hochul (NY-27)
* Brad Schneider (IL-10)
* Pat Kreitlow (WI-07)
* Shelley Adler (NJ-02)
* Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)
* Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
* Lois Capps (CA-24)
* Leonard Boswell (IA-03)
* Gary McDowell (MI-01)
* John Barrow (GA-12)
* Val Demings (FL-10)
* David Gill (IL-13)

#### Expenditures[edit]

In the 2012 elections the Congressional Leadership Fund spent a grand total of $9,450,223, all of it in opposition of Democratic candidates.[17]

Top 10 largest Congressional Leadership Fund expenditures in 2012[17]

Candidate  | Party  | State  | Office  | Total  | For  | Against  | Desired Result
Betty Sutton |  | OH | House | $2,743,676 | $0 | $2,743,676 |

Pete Gallego |  | TX | House | $1,093,933 | $0 | $1,093,933 |

Kathy Hochul |  | NY | House | $890,366 | $0 | $890,366 |

Brad Schneider |  | IL | House | $829,421 | $0 | $829,421 |

Pat Kreitlow |  | WI | House | $675,072 | $0 | $675,072 |

Shelley Adler |  | NJ | House | $627,114 | $0 | $627,114 |

Kyrsten Sinema |  | AZ | House | $572,747 | $0 | $572,747 |

Mike McIntyre |  | NC | House | $520,030 | $0 | $520,030 |

Lois Capps |  | CA | House | $512,378 | $0 | $512,378 |

Leonard Boswell |  | IA | House | $438,336 | $0 | $438,336 |

#### Campaign advertisements[edit]

The following are some of the campaign ads aired by the Congressional Leadership Fund in the 2012 election cycle.

"Out of Touch"

"Busy Betty"

"Folks"

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## Finances[edit]

The following is a breakdown of the Congressional Leadership Fund's contributions received and expenditures from 2012-2016 fiscal years, as reported to the FEC.

Annual reported contributions and expenditures, 2011-2016

Year  | Contributions  | Expenditures
2016[18] | $50,309,795 | $49,655,073
2015[19] | $743,224 | $400,939
2014[20] | $11,530,039 | $11,879,893
2013[21] | $1,082,658 | $684,878
2012[22] | $11,155,986 | $10,768,365
2011[23] | $130,604 | $42,643

## Legal status[edit]

The Congressional Leadership Fund is a super PAC. A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited sums of money. A super PAC cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. These committees are also called independent expenditure-only committees. A super PAC is not legally considered a political action committee (PAC) and as such is regulated under separate rules.[24][25]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Club for Growth and Congressional Leadership Fund primary spending agreement (2022)[edit]

On January 5, 2023, the Club for Growth, a PAC that "endorses and raises money for candidates who stay true to the fundamental principles of limited government and economic freedom," announced it would support Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) bid for speaker of the House after coming to an agreement with the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) regarding spending in Republican primaries.[26] CLF President Dan Conston said, "CLF will not spend in any open-seat primaries in safe Republican districts and CLF will not grant resources to other super PAC’s to do so. [...] CLF will continue to support incumbents in primaries as well as challengers in districts that affect the Majority."

Club for Growth President David McIntosh said, "This agreement on super PAC’s fulfills a major concern we have pressed for. We understand that Leader McCarthy and Members are working on a rules agreement that will meet the principles we have set out previously. Assuming these principles are met, Club for Growth will support Kevin McCarthy for Speaker."[27]

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Congressional Leadership Fund'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Congressional Leadership Fund - Google News

## External links[edit]

* Congressional Leadership Fund website
* Congressional Leadership Fund on Facebook

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "About," accessed July 26, 2016
2. ↑ The Hill, "McCarthy-backed PAC agrees to not spend in safe GOP open-seat primaries in Speakership concession," January 4, 2023
3. ↑ Politico, "Get to know a Super PAC: Congressional Leadership Fund," July 23, 2012
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Public Radio, "Norm Coleman's super PAC could influence Congressional races," January 16, 2012
5. ↑ Weekly Standard, "They Pack a Wallop," July 2, 2012
6. ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "Outside Money & the 2014 Wave," November 5, 2014
7. ↑ Twitter, "James Downs on April 3, 2024," accessed April 4, 2024
8. ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "CLF announces first 'Trailblazers' endorsements of the 2022 cycle," January 5, 2022
9. ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "How Republicans Win Back the House in 2020," accessed March 10, 2019
10. ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Pours Millions More Into Georgia Runoff," April 29, 2017
11. ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Goes After Ossoff’s Out-of-State Money," May 9, 2017
12. ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Releases Closing Ad Against Jon Ossoff," June 13, 2017
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Politico, "Super PAC launches $10 million effort to protect House GOP," August 22, 2016
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Center for Responsive Politics, "Targeted Candidates," accessed March 10, 2015
15. ↑ Sunlight Foundation, "Outside spenders' return on investment," November 14, 2012
16. ↑ OpenSecrets, "Congressional Leadership Fund," accessed July 22, 2013
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Open Secrets, "Congressional Leadership Fund Recipients, 2012," accessed July 22, 2013
18. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2016," May 17, 2017
19. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2015," January 31, 2016
20. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2014," January 31, 2015
21. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2013," January 31, 2014
22. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2012," January 31, 2013
23. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2011," January 31, 2012
24. ↑ The Atlantic, "The New York Times' Disingenuous Campaign Against Citizens United," February 24, 2012
25. ↑ The New York Times, "Who's Financing the 'Super PACs?" May 7, 2012
26. ↑ Club for Growth, "About," accessed January 5, 2023
27. ↑ Club for Growth, "CLF & Club for Growth Come to Key Agreement In Support of Kevin McCarthy for Speaker," accessed January 5, 2023

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