Club for Growth Action (Super PAC)
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 8 min
| Club for Growth Action | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Year founded: | 2010 |
| Connections | |
| Club for Growth, Club for Growth PAC | |
Club for Growth Action is a conservative super PAC. The group was founded in 2010 as the independent expenditure arm of the Club for Growth. The super PAC endorses and spends money in races that concern government spending and economic policy.
Mission[edit]
As of July 2017, the Club for Growth Action website listed the following mission statement:[1]
| “ |
Club for Growth Action is dedicated to a single mission: defeating big-government politicians and replacing them with pro-growth, limited government conservatives.[2] |
” |
Background[edit]
The Club for Growth Action super PAC was established in August 2010, according to the FEC.[3] The organization makes independent expenditures based on a candidate's policy stances on economic issues.
Related groups[edit]
Club for Growth can refer to one of a number of organizations with separate missions and activities. All of the Club for Growth organizations focus on government spending and issues of economic policy, but the separate organizations vary by the degree to which they can and do participate in politics.
| Club for Growth related groups | ||
|---|---|---|
| Club for Growth | Club for Growth PAC | Club for Growth Action |
| 501(c)(4) | PAC | Super PAC |
| Club for Growth can legally participate in political activity in support of or opposition to candidates for office. These political activities cannot be the organization's primary activities and cannot be direct donations to a candidate for office or a candidate's committee. Club for Growth endorses candidates for office and runs advocacy campaigns supporting and opposing candidates based on their stances on government spending and economic policy. | Club for Growth PAC is a federal political action committee. The PAC can spend money in electoral politics by donating to parties or candidates they support, subject to contribution limits defined by state and federal election agencies. | Club for Growth Action can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. The group cannot contribute directly to a politician or political party, but it can spend independently to campaign for or against political figures. Club for Growth Action endorses and spends money in races that concern government spending and economic policy. |
Work[edit]
| Super PACs |
|---|
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| Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia. |
As an independent expenditure-only group, the Club for Growth Action spends its money buying advertising to support or oppose candidates based on the candidates' economic perspectives. The super PAC focuses on congressional races and funds television, radio, and internet ads as well as direct mail campaigns throughout the country. It endorses candidates that support lower taxes, reduced government spending, and pro-economic growth policies.[1] The committee also supports a free market economy.[1]
In 2012, one of their ads against Democratic candidate for Senate Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) read, "Donnelly has voted for higher taxes, government health care, and trillions in new debt. But what would a vote for Joe Donnelly really mean? It would mean a U.S. Senate controlled by liberals, with more taxes and debt from Washington, and less jobs for Indiana."[4] In the 2016 presidential election, the super PAC ran similar ads concerning Donald Trump (R). According to The Hill, the anti-Trump ads ran in Iowa and Illinois during the primary elections. David McIntosh, the group's president, told the paper that Club for Growth believed that Trump had "far-left positions on taxes, health care, bailouts and the abuse of eminent domain."[5]
2020 election cycle[edit]
As of July 30, 2020, Club for Growth Action had spent $19,154,863 in the 2020 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[6] To view the group's expenditures in the 2020 election cycle, click here.
On January 29, 2020, Club for Growth Action announced that it would be re-airing an ad against U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) ahead of the Alabama Senate Republican primary. Club for Growth said the ad would "[highlight] Rep. Bradley Byrne’s record of sending American tax-dollars overseas and his support of special interests."[7] The group spent $274,000 on January 28, 2020.[8]
According to Politico, as of January 30, 2020, the organization planned to spend $3 million on ads opposing U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) in the U.S. Senate special election in Georgia.[9]
2018 election cycle[edit]
Expenditures[edit]
Club for Growth Action spent $12,837,437 during the 2018 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The following are the top 10 independent expenditures made by Club for Growth Action during the 2018 election cycle.[10]
| Club for Growth top independent expenditures in 2018 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Total | For | Against |
| Beto O'Rourke | Texas |  |
U.S. Senate | $1,181,720 | $0 | $1,181,720 |
| Russell C. Fagg | Mont. |  |
U.S. Senate | $1,147,885 | $0 | $1,147,885 |
| Chip Roy | Texas | |
U.S. House | $888,823 | $888,823 | $0 |
| George Scott | Pa. | |
U.S. House | $665,858 | $0 | $665,858 |
| Kristen Carlson | Fla. | |
U.S. House | $637,035 | $0 | $637,035 |
| Matt Rosendale | Mont. | |
U.S. Senate | $556,850 | $556,850 | $0 |
| Lance Gooden | Texas | |
U.S. House | $517,287 | $0 | $517,287 |
| Russ Fulcher | Idaho | |
U.S. House | $514,318 | $514,318 | $0 |
| Greg Steube | Fla. | |
U.S. House | $475,171 | $475,171 | $0 |
| Tommy Pope | S.C. | |
U.S. House | $468,911 | $0 | $468,911 |
2017 Georgia special election spending[edit]
In the weeks prior to a special election to fill the seat representing Georgia's 6th Congressional District, Club For Growth PAC endorsed Republican Bob Gray. The super PAC spent on advertising that opposed Karen Handel (R) for the position, calling Handel "a big-spending career politician that we can’t trust with our money."[11]
2016 election cycle[edit]
Presidential election[edit]
In the 2016 election cycle, the Club for Growth PAC and the super PAC endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in the organization's history. On March 23, 2016, the organization endorsed Ted Cruz for president. Club for Growth President David McIntosh stated, "Ted Cruz is the best free-market, pro-growth, limited-government candidate in the presidential race." Regarding the first-time move of endorsing a presidential candidate, McIntosh said, "This year is different, because there is a vast gulf between the two leading Republican candidates on matters of economic liberty. Their records make clear that Ted Cruz is a consistent conservative who will fight to shrink the federal footprint, while Donald Trump would seek to remake government in his desired image."[12]
The super PAC raised $4 million in February 2016 when it announced its anti-Donald Trump campaign. The committee spent $4.7 in expenditures and, according to Politico, 59 percent of that went to opposing Trump.[13]
Expenditures[edit]
Club for Growth Action spent $19,181,962 during the 2016 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[14]
The following are the top 10 independent expenditures made by Club for Growth Action during the 2016 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
| Club for Growth top independent expenditures in 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Total | For | Against |
| Donald Trump | |
President | $7,054,232 | $29 | $7,054,203 | |
| Katie McGinty | Pa. | |
U.S. Senate | $3,563,079 | $0 | $3,563,079 |
| Russ Feingold | Wis. | |
U.S. Senate | $1,495,544 | $28 | $1,495,516 |
| Warren Davidson | Ohio | |
U.S. House | $1,115,427 | $1,115,427 | $0 |
| Renee Ellmers | N.C. | |
U.S. House | $787,880 | $0 | $787,880 |
| Neal Dunn | Fla. | |
U.S. House | $582,285 | $0 | $582,285 |
| Ted Budd | N.C. | |
U.S. House | $499,026 | $499,026 | $0 |
| John Kasich | |
President | $467,226 | $0 | $467,226 | |
| Drew Ferguson | Ga. | |
U.S. House | $436,311 | $0 | $436,311 |
| Ron Johnson | Wis. | |
U.S. Senate | $424,207 | $424,207 | $0 |
2014 election cycle[edit]
The Club for Growth was involved in finding primary challengers in districts the group identified as safely Republican with incumbents the group referred to as RINO (Republicans in name only). It launched the website called www.PrimaryMyCongressman.com to highlight those Republicans with what it saw as less conservative voting records. Club for Growth Action saw these incumbents as having failed to consistently vote on limiting government.[15]
Expenditures[edit]
The following are the top 10 independent expenditures made by Club for Growth Action during the 2014 election cycle:[16]
| Club for Growth top independent expenditures in 2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | State | Party | Office | Total | For | Against |
| Thad Cochran | Miss. | |
U.S. Senate | $2,417,659 | $0 | $2,417,659 |
| Mark Pryor | Ark. | |
U.S. Senate | $815,417 | $0 | $815,417 |
| Ann Kuster | N.H. | |
U.S. House | $758,497 | $0 | $758,497 |
| Chris McDaniel | Miss. | |
U.S. Senate | $722,353 | $722,353 | $0 |
| Mike Simpson | Idaho | |
U.S. House | $478,802 | $0 | $478,802 |
| Brian Ellis | Mich. | |
U.S. House | $440,557 | $0 | $440,557 |
| Buddy Carter | Ga. | |
U.S. House | $387,928 | $0 | $387,928 |
| Vance McAllister | La. | |
U.S. House | $258,372 | $0 | $258,372 |
| Sid Dinsdale | Neb. | |
U.S. Senate | $256,906 | $0 | $256,906 |
| Paul DeMarco | Ala. | |
U.S. House | $256,270 | $0 | $256,270 |
Campaign advertisements[edit]
A selection of ads sponsored by Club for Growth Action in 2014.
2012 election cycle[edit]
The Center for Responsive Politics analyzed the success of 2012 general election cycle spending:[17]
Expenditures[edit]
Club for Growth Action spent a grand total of $16,584,207 in the 2012 election. Of that money, $15,000 was spent for Democrats, $4,244,957 was against Democrats, $3,060,031 was for Republicans, and $9,264,219 was used against Republicans. [18]
| Top 10 largest Club for Growth Action expenditures in 2012 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | Desired Result |
| David Dewhurst | |
Texas | Senate | $4,998,650 | $0 | $4,998,650 |  |
| Joe Donnelly | |
Ind. | Senate | $1,990,588 | $0 | $1,990,588 | |
| Richard Carmona | |
Ariz. | Senate | $1,274,348 | $0 | $1,274,348 | |
| Richard Lugar | |
Ind. | Senate | $947,991 | $0 | $947,991 | |
| Sherrod Brown | |
Ohio | Senate | $828,012 | $15,000 | $813,012 |  |
| Jon Bruning | |
Neb. | Senate | $714,743 | $0 | $714,743 | |
| Richard Mourdock | |
Ind. | Senate | $701,465 | $701,465 | $0 | |
| Eric Hovde | |
Wis. | Senate | $658,762 | $0 | $658,762 | |
| Ted Cruz | |
Texas | Senate | $630,001 | $630,001 | $0 | |
| Paul Gosar | |
Ariz. | House | $593,036 | $0 | $593,036 | |
Campaign advertisements[edit]
A selection of ads sponsored by Club for Growth Action in 2012.
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Finances[edit]
The following is a breakdown of the Club for Growth Action's annual contributions and expenditures from 2010 to 2019, as reported to the FEC.
| Annual contributions and expenditures for the Club for Growth Action, 2010-2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Annual contributions | Annual expenditures | |
| 2019[19] | $7,735,324.25 | $2,102,477.24 | |
| 2018[20] | $16,384,281.02 | $17,409,119.38 | |
| 2017[21] | $3,307,571.40 | $2,149,877.31 | |
| 2016[22] | $16,929,677 | $17,975,922 | |
| 2015[23] | $3,007,124 | $2,382,925 | |
| 2014[24] | $6,706,271 | $7,694,989 | |
| 2013[25] | $2,613,409 | $1,258,423 | |
| 2012[26] | $16,283,352 | $17,776,291 | |
| 2011[27] | $1,970,561 | $155,645 | |
| 2010[28] | $5,589,334 | $5,489,609 | |
Legal status[edit]
Club for Growth Action 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.[29][30]
Recent news[edit]
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Club for Growth Action'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Club for Growth, "Club for Growth Action," accessed July 17, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ FEC, "Statement of Organization, Club for Growth Action (2010)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Club For Growth Action Adds To Existing Ad Buy In Indiana Senate Race," October 26, 2012
- ↑ The Hill, "Club for Growth Action spends $2 million on anti-Trump ads," March 7, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Independent Expenditures, Communication Costs and Coordinated Expenses as of July 30, 2020," accessed July 30, 2020
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Club for Growth Action Running Alabama TV Ad on Byrne," January 29, 2020
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Independent Expenditures: Club for Growth Action," accessed February 2, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Morning Score: What is the Club for Growth up to?," January 30, 2020
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Independent Expenditures, Communication Costs and Coordinated Expenses as of June 20, 2019," accessed July 30, 2020
- ↑ Atlanta Journal Constitution, "Club for Growth takes aim at ‘big-spending’ Handel in Georgia special election," March 28, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Club for Growth endorses Ted Cruz," March 23, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Club for Growth nets $4 million for Trump fight," March 19, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Club for Growth Action, Independent Expenditures, Communication Costs and Coordinated Expenses as of July 25, 2016," July 25, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Club for Growth Leads Conservative Charge, Sometimes at Republicans," March 13, 2013
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Club for Growth Action, Independent Expenditures, Communication Costs and Coordinated Expenses as of June 13, 2016," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "Club for Growth Action," accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ Open Secrets, "Club for Growth Action Recipients, 2012," accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Club for Growth Action Year-End Report, 2019," February 20, 2020
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Club for Growth Action Year-End Report, 2018," January 31, 2019
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Club for Growth Action Year-End Report, 2017," January 30, 2018
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Club for Growth Action Year-End Report, 2016," January 30, 2017
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2015)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2014)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2013)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2012)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2011)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, CFP (2010)," accessed March 29, 2016
- ↑ The Atlantic, "The New York Times' Disingenuous Campaign Against Citizens United," February 24, 2012
- ↑ The New York Times, "Who's Financing the 'Super PACs?" May 7, 2012
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