Republican State Leadership Committee

Basic facts
Location:| Washington, D.C.
Type:| 527 group
Top official:| Matt Walter, President
Year founded:| 2002
Website:| Official website

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## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Elections
* 2.1 2024 elections
* 2.2 2016 elections
* 2.2.1 Priorities
* 2.2.1.1 State legislative races
* 2.2.1.2 Judicial races
* 2.3 2015 elections
* 2.4 2012 elections
* 3 Leadership
* 4 Finances
* 5 Noteworthy events
* 5.1 John Doe investigations
* 6 Recent news
* 7 See also
* 8 External links
* 9 Footnotes

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is a national 527 group that aims "to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican officeholders." According to the organization's website, it is "the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country."[1]

## History[edit]

The RSLC was founded in 2002 in response to increasing competitiveness in down ballot races. Since its inception, it has grown to be the largest Republican organization that focuses on state level politics.[1] In 2014, the organization went through a number of transitions. Ed Gillespie, who had been the group's chairman, resigned his position in order to run for the U.S. Senate in Virginia while President Chris Jankowski also stepped down. Politico reported that these staff changes also came in the midst of a split in the group's membership. The Republican Attorneys General Association left the RSLC in January 2014 to become its own group. The site reported, "Republicans familiar with internal tensions at the organization said there was a sense among the party’s attorneys general that they deserved greater independence and financial control in the 2014 cycle and beyond."[2]

After the reorganization in 2014, The Hill described the organization's makeup: "The group is split into three caucuses — the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association, Republican Secretaries of State Committee, and the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee — as well as two initiatives targeting women and other underrepresented candidates. "[3] That same year, the organization announced a Judicial Fairness Initiative, an effort to support conservative judges up for election.[4] The announcement came on the heels of a $650,000 donation to the group Justice for All North Carolina, which aired ads opposing Justice Robin Hudson of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Hudson, a Democrat defeated two Republicans—Eric Lee Levinson and Jeanette Kathleen Doran—in the May 6 primary and defeated Levinson in the general election as well.[5][6][7]

## Elections[edit]

### 2024 elections[edit]

The RSLC announced it had invested $44 million in state legislative races.[8] The group said it intended to invest in races in legislative races in Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. at the time of the 2024 elections, Republicans controlled both chambers in Arizona, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. Democrats controlled both chambers in Minnesota and Michigan. Pennsylvania had a divided government. RSLC chair Dee Duncan said, "By investing early and supporting strong Republican candidates, we are able to maximize our funds over the course of the cycle so we can secure decisive victories in November."[9]

### 2016 elections[edit]

During the 2016 election cycle, the RSLC aimed to support Republican candidates in state legislative and judicial races across the country. The group contributed more than $40 million in support of state-level candidates and more than $6.1 million to back judicial candidates.[1][10]

#### Priorities[edit]

##### State legislative races[edit]

In July 2015, the RSLC announced its priority races for the 2016 election cycle. "The RSLC and RLCC will focus heavily on six specific chambers with the most likely path to new Republican majorities in 2016: the Colorado House, Kentucky House, Washington House, Iowa Senate, Minnesota Senate, and New Mexico Senate. Each of these states currently have split chambers – one with a Democrat majority and one with a Republican majority."[11]

According to the press release, the group's priorities also included "ending Democrat supermajorities in states with new Republican governors and lieutenant governors" and "actively defending existing Republican majorities."[11]

As a part of the group's state legislative campaign strategy, the RSLC directed more than $40 million toward state-level political action committees, candidate campaigns, and state political parties.[1]

The following table identifies the RSLC's targeted state legislative chambers, a selection of the group's largest contributions in each state, and the post-election partisan control:[12][13][14]

RSLC 2016 targeted state legislative races

Targeted state legislative chamber  | Largest 2016 state-level contributions  | 2016 election results
Colorado House of Representatives | $1.5 million to Colorado Citizens for Accountable Government | Democrats maintained a majority
Kentucky House of Representatives | $85,000 to Kentuckians for Strong Leadership | Republicans gained a majority
Washington House of Representatives | $350,000 to The Reagan Fund | Democrats maintained a majority
Iowa State Senate | $495,000 to the Republican Party of Iowa | Republicans gained a majority
Minnesota State Senate | $725,000 to the Minnesota Jobs Coalition | Republicans gained a majority
New Mexico Senate | $375,000 to the Advance New Mexico Now | Democrats maintained a majority

##### Judicial races[edit]

Through the group's Judicial Fairness Initiative, the RSLC also made contributions in support of conservative, state-level judicial candidates across the country. The group targeted state Supreme Court races in Montana, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.[10][15]

Through RSLC contributed a total of $6.1 million in support of 2016 judicial candidates, including successful races for seats on the Arkansas Supreme Court, the Ohio Supreme Court, the West Virginia Supreme Court, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. [10]

In the Arkansas Supreme Court race, the group financed $250,000 worth of ads against Clark Mason, a candidate for an associate justice seat.[16] The group also purchased the domain ArkansasCourtFacts.com as a vehicle for comparing the records of Mason and the RSLC-backed Shawn Womack.[17] Womack and Dan Kemp, the two Arkansas Supreme Court candidates backed by the RSLC, were successfully elected in March 2016.

### 2015 elections[edit]

The RSLC was heavily involved in the state-level races for 2015. According to Townhall, the group targeted races for the Virginia State Senate and for Kentucky governor. RSLC President Matt Walter noted that the November 2015 elections represented "tremendous and historic Republican success at the state level."[18]

### 2012 elections[edit]

The RSLC contributed $977,500 in the 2012 election cycle: $2,500 to candidates, $400,000 to 527 committees and $500,000 to satellite spending groups.[19] The following table displays the full list of federal campaign contributions made by NSLC in 2012.[19]

Largest Republican State Leadership Cmte expenditures in 2012[19]

Recipient  | Total
Crossroads Generation | $500,000
Real Jobs NC | $300,000
For Country | $100,000
Mitt Romney | $2,500

## Leadership[edit]

As of February 2017, the following individuals are listed as the leadership of the RSLC the group's website:[1]

* Bill McCollum, Chairman
* Austin Chambers, President

As of February 2017, the following individuals are listed as members of the RSLC's board of directors on the group's website:[1]

* Bill McCollum, Chairman
* Christopher Rants, Vice-chairman
* Charlie Black
* Luis Fortuño
* Ed Gillespie
* Jodi Rell
* Christine Toretti
* Steve Crisafulli

## Finances[edit]

The following is a breakdown of contributions received and expenditures made by the RSLC during the 2004 to 2014 election cycles. Note: data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics.[20]

Annual contributions and expenditures

Year  | Total raised  | Total spent
2024[20] | $14,260,421 | $11,151,425
2022[20] | $71,841,087 | $71,237,804
2020[20] | $63,919,518 | $62,809,398
2018[20] | $45,283,573 | $45,626,124
2016[20] | $38,297,620 | $38,590,869
2014[20] | $38,154,684 | $38,128,105
2012[20] | $39,241,598 | $40,657,134
2010[20] | $29,504,912 | $29,911,967
2008[20] | $19,961,136 | $20,981,193
2006[20] | $19,485,650 | $20,003,457
2004[20] | $10,762,907 | $10,682,312

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### John Doe investigations[edit]

See also: John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker

Two John Doe investigations, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015, were launched by Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm (D) into the activities of staff and associates of Gov. Scott Walker (R).[21] The Republican State Leadership Committee was one of 29 conservative organizations that were targeted during the course of the second of two John Doe investigations in Wisconsin related to Gov. Scott Walker (R).[22][23]

## Recent news[edit]

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

Republican State Leadership Committee - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Ed Gillespie
* North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2014
* Republican Legislative Campaign Committee

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Facebook page
* Twitter feed
* YouTube channel

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Republican State Leadership Committee, "About RSLC," accessed March 7, 2016 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "about" defined multiple times with different content
2. ↑ Politico, "Powerful GOP group splits apart," January 21, 2014
3. ↑ The Hill, "GOP names state campaign leaders for 2016," April 28, 2015
4. ↑ The Washington Post, "Republican group will focus on judicial races," April 29, 2014
5. ↑ Lady Liberty 1885, "The NC Supreme Court Races," April 14, 2014
6. ↑ News & Observer, "NC Supreme Court race sees outside money and negative ads," April 29, 2014
7. ↑ Justice At Stake.org, "Red Flags for High Spending, Attack Ads in NC Judicial Race," April 28, 2014
8. ↑ Politico, "Republicans say they’re getting swamped in state legislatures," October 23, 2024
9. ↑ Pluribus News, "Dems, GOP pump millions into legislative elections," accessed September 4, 2024
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Republican State Leadership Committee, "Judicial Fairness Initiative," accessed February 23, 2017
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 RSLC, "RSLC Announces State Legislative Election Targets for 2015-2016," July 30, 2015
12. ↑ The Colorado Independent, "The deep-pocketed outside groups that spent millions to influence the race for the state Capitol," December 23, 2016
13. ↑ PRWatch, "Republican State Leadership Committee Spends Big to Keep State Houses in the Red," November 8, 2016
14. ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Republican State Leadership Committee - RSLC," accessed February 23, 2017
15. ↑ Republican State Leadership Committee, "2015-2016 JFI Activity States," accessed February 23, 2017
16. ↑ Arkansas Times, "Mason responds to attacks from Republican State Leadership Committee," February 23, 2016
17. ↑ RSLC, "RSLC’s Judicial Fairness Initiative Launches ArkansasCourtFacts.com," February 22, 2016
18. ↑ Townhall, "Republican State Leadership Committee: Tremendous And Historic Success At The State Level," November 5, 2015
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `os`
20. ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 Center for Responsive Politics, "Republican State Leadership Cmte," accessed March 7, 2016
21. ↑ United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Milwaukee Division, "Eric O’Keefe, and Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc.," accessed February 23, 2015
22. ↑ Wisconsin Watchdog, "Wall Street Journal: GAB targeted conservative justices in John Doe defense," September 17, 2015
23. ↑ Eric O'Keefe v. Francis Schmitz, et al., "Complaint," accessed September 16, 2015

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Personal Gain Index|

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John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker

Background|

John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker • Timeline of John Doe investigations related to Scott Walker • Wisconsin John Doe laws

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Lawsuits|

State court lawsuits: • Three Unnamed Petitioners v. Gregory A. Peterson • Eric O'Keefe, et al. vs. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, et al. • Two Unnamed Petitioners v. Gregory A. Peterson • Christopher Brekken v. Bruce J. Landgraf • Christopher L. Wiesmueller v. Neal Nettesheim • Francis D. Schmitz v. Gregory A. Peterson • Cynthia Archer v. John Chisholm, et. al. • Federal court lawsuits: • Eric O'Keefe and Wisconsin Club for Growth, Inc. v. Francis Schmitz, et. al. • Relevant rulings: • McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission • Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission • Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. v. Thomas Barland • Citizens for Responsible Government v. Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, et. al. • Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. • Wisconsin Coalition for Voter Participation Inc., et. al. v. State of Wisconsin Elections Board, et. al.

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Prosecutors|

Special prosecutor: • Francis Schmitz • Personnel in Milwaukee County DA's Office: • John Chisholm • Bruce Landgraf • David Budde • David Robles • Robert Stelter • District attorneys in the five John Doe counties • John Chisholm • Ismael Ozanne • Jane Kohlwey • Larry Nelson • Kurt Klomberg

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Courts|

State courts: • Waukesha County Circuit Court, Wisconsin • Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV • Federal courts: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin • United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit • Supreme Court of the United States

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Judges|

State court judges: • Gregory Peterson • Barbara Kluka • Neal Nettesheim • Lee Dreyfus • Shirley Abrahamson • Ann Walsh Bradley • Michael Gableman • David Prosser • Annette Ziegler • Patience Roggensack • Patrick Crooks • David Hansher • Timothy Doyle • Jeffrey Kremers • Federal court judges: • Rudolph Randa • Frank Easterbrook • Diane Wood • William Bauer • Charles N. Clevert, Jr.

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Attorneys|

Attorneys of JD targets: • Steven Biskupic • Todd Graves • Michael Bresnick • Edward Meyers • Dean Strang • Matthew O'Neill • David Rivkin • Andrew Grossman • Attorneys of JD prosecutors and judges: • Patrick Fiedler • Samuel Leib • Randall Crocker • Douglas Knott • Joseph M. Russell

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Supporters of JD investigations|

• American Bridge 21st Century • Lisa Graves • We Are Wisconsin • Wisconsin Democracy Campaign • Greater Wisconsin Committee • United Wisconsin • Democratic Party of Wisconsin • Center for Media and Democracy • The Campaign Legal Center • Democracy 21

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Media|

• Dan Bice • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel • M.D. Kittle • David A. French • National Review • The Wall Street Journal • Stuart Taylor • American Media Institute • Jason Stein • Patrick Marley • Vicki McKenna • Bill Glauber

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Elected Officials|

• Scott Walker • Tom Barrett • Brett Davis • J.B. Van Hollen • Tom Tiffany • Dave Craig • John Weishan • Chris Abele • Kathleen Falk • David Clarke • Robin Vos • Mary Burke

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Government Accountability Board|

• Wisconsin Government Accountability Board • Current board members: • Gerald Nichol • Timothy Vocke • Thomas Cane • Harold Froehlich • John Franke • Elsa Lamelas • Past board members: • Thomas Barland • Michael Brennan • Staff: • Kevin Kennedy • Dean Nickel • Jonathan Becker • Shane Falk • Nathan Judnic • Elizabeth Blackwood • J. Douglas Haag • Vendors: • Digital Intelligence

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Targets of John Doe I|

Prosecuted: • Kelly Rindfleisch • Darlene Wink • Kevin Kavanaugh • Tim Russell • Brian Pierick • Wiliam Gardner • Investigated: • Friends of Scott Walker • Christopher Wiesmueller • John Hiller • Jim Villa • Cindy Archer • Jailed by prosecutors/No charges filed: • Christopher Brekken • Andrew P. Jensen, Jr. • Home or office raided: •Kelly Rindfleisch • Cindy Archer • Darlene Wink • Tim Russell • Brian Pierick • Christopher Wiesmueller • Compelled to testify: • R.J. Johnson

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Targets of John Doe II|

Individuals: • Kelly Rindfleisch • Eric O'Keefe • R.J. Johnson • Deborah Jordahl • Jed Sanborn • Carol Valley • William Eisner • Keith Gilkes • Sean Hannity • Charlie Sykes • Organizations: • Wisconsin Club for Growth • Club for Growth • Wisconsin Right to Life • United Sportsmen of Wisconsin • Coalition Partners, LLC • R.J. Johnson and Associates • Nonbox • TenCAPITOL • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce • American Federation for Children • Americans for Prosperity • Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin • Right Direction Wisconsin PAC • Republican State Leadership Committee • Committee to Elect a Republican Senate • Wisconsin Recall Action Fund • Jobs First Coalition • Ending Spending Action Fund • Mary Stitt & Associates • Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce • League of American Voters • Citizens for a Strong America • Republican Party of Wisconsin • Republican Governors Association • American Crossroads • Wisconsin Family Action

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Other|

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