Club for Growth PAC
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| Club for Growth PAC | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | PAC |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Top official: | David McIntosh, President |
| Year founded: | 2007 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Connections | |
| •Club for Growth • Club for Growth Action (super PAC) | |
The Club for Growth PAC is a political action committee (PAC) that "endorses and raises money for candidates who stay true to the fundamental principles of limited government and economic freedom," according to its website.[1] The PAC is one of the political arms of the Club for Growth and focuses on House and Senate races.[2]
Mission
As of May 2017, the Club for Growth PAC website stated the following:[1]
| “ | The Club’s Political Action Committee (PAC) endorses and raises money for candidates who stay true to the fundamental principles of limited government and economic freedom.[3] | ” |
Background
Club for Growth PAC was established in 2007, according to FEC documents. In 2007, Adam Rozansky and Pat Toomey were listed as the main agents for the PAC.[4]
In 2010, the PAC filed an amended statement of organization, which made Rozansky both treasurer and custodian of record.[5] As of May 2017, David McIntosh was the president of the Club for Growth.[6]
Related groups
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
As a political action committee, the Club for Growth PAC spends money on elections by donating to parties or candidates that they support.
Policy stances
As of December 2016, the Club for Growth website outlined seven key issue areas that the group supported. The PAC seeks to support candidates that adhere to these key issues.
- Budget and Spending: The group advocates the reduction of discretionary spending, limiting "entitlement spending" by introducing "market-based" reforms, reforming the federal budget process, and targeting "programs in the budget that can be cut, terminated, transferred to the states, or privatized."[7]
- Education: The group supports the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, allowing choice of schools for parents, improving the charter school system, and the school voucher program.[8]
- Entitlements: Club for growth PAC advocates repealing Obamacare, reforming Medicare, and creating Social Security individual "retirement accounts."[9]
- Free trade: The group supports the streamlining the transportation of goods into, out of, and within the U.S., in order to make it more cost-effective, terminating "all trade-distorting export subsidy programs like the Ex-Im Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)," and ending farm subsidies.[10]
- Regulation: The Club for growth advocates for regulatory reform, including the regulatory review processes as well as "Have Congress reclaim its delegation powers granted to it by the Constitution in order to prevent the executive branch from promulgating regulatory rules without congressional authority."[11]
- Taxes: The committee supports broad tax reductions and reforms. It advocates for the lowering or elimination of income, dividend, individual capital gains, estate, and corporate income tax rates. The PAC also supports a "supermajority vote requirement to raise taxes."[12]
- Tort reform: The PAC supports judicial reform with regard to tort law or litigative lawsuits. The group argues that such suits are costly and "unnecessarily punitive."[13]
Political activity
Candidate contributions
2016
The following table lists the 10 largest Club for Growth PAC expenditures for federal candidates during the 2016 cycle. All data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics.[14]
| Top 10 Club for Growth PAC expenditures in 2016 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | |
| Pat Toomey |  |
Pa. | U.S. Senate | $25,729 | $25,729 | $0 | |
| Ron Johnson | |
Wis. | U.S. Senate | $24,227 | $24,227 | $0 | |
| Ron DeSantis | |
Fla. | U.S. House | $23,636 | $23,636 | $0 | |
| Marlin Stutzman | |
Ind. | U.S. Senate | $12,103 | $12,103 | $0 | |
| Jim Banks | |
Ind. | U.S. House | $11,519 | $11,519 | $0 | |
| Marco Rubio | |
Fla. | U.S. Senate | $11,140 | $11,140 | $0 | |
| Mike Lee | |
Utah | U.S. Senate | $10,456 | $10,456 | $0 | |
| John Fleming | |
La. | U.S. Senate | $9,455 | $9,455 | $0 | |
| Warren Davidson | |
Ohio | U.S. House | $7,641 | $7,641 | $0 | |
| Jim Duncan | |
N.C. | U.S. House | $6,924 | $6,924 | $0 | |
2014
The following table lists the 10 largest Club for Growth PAC expenditures for federal candidates during the 2014 cycle. All data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics.[15]
| Top 10 Club for Growth PAC expenditures in 2014 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | |
| Tom Cotton | |
Ark. | U.S. Senate | $42,172 | $42,172 | $0 | |
| Bryan Smith | |
Idaho | U.S. House | $40,102 | $31,693 | $8,409 | |
| Dan Sullivan | |
Alaska | U.S. Senate | $32,956 | $32,956 | $0 | |
| Chris McDaniel | |
Miss. | U.S. Senate | $22,280 | $22,280 | $0 | |
| Ben Sasse | |
Neb. | U.S. Senate | $20,632 | $20,632 | $0 | |
| Marilinda Garcia | |
N.H. | U.S. House | $18,404 | $18,404 | $0 | |
| Justin Amash | |
Mich. | U.S. House | $10,900 | $10,900 | $0 | |
| Zach Dasher | |
La. | U.S. House | $10,346 | $10,346 | $0 | |
| Chad Mathis | |
Ala. | U.S. House | $6,457 | $6,457 | $0 | |
| Gary Palmer | |
Ala. | U.S. House | $6,284 | $6,284 | $0 | |
2012
The following table lists the 10 largest Club for Growth PAC expenditures for federal candidates during the 2012 cycle. All data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics.[16]
| Top 10 Club for Growth PAC expenditures in 2012 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | |
| Richard Carmona |  |
Ariz. | U.S. Senate | $247,067 | $0 | $247,067 | |
| Tim Murphy | |
Pa. | U.S. House | $106,701 | $0 | $106,701 | |
| Jeff Flake | |
Ariz. | U.S. Senate | $76,074 | $76,074 | $0 | |
| Mark Neumann | |
Wis. | U.S. Senate | $63,598 | $63,598 | $0 | |
| Ted Cruz | |
Texas | U.S. Senate | $54,138 | $54,138 | $0 | |
| Richard Mourdock | |
Ind. | U.S. Senate | $32,531 | $32,531 | $0 | |
| Josh Mandel | |
Ohio | U.S. Senate | $22,595 | $22,595 | $0 | |
| Tom Cotton | |
Ark. | U.S. House | $17,178 | $17,178 | $0 | |
| Steve King | |
Iowa | U.S. House | $17,013 | $17,013 | $0 | |
| Scott Keadle | |
N.C. | U.S. House | $11,082 | $11,082 | $0 | |
Endorsed candidates
2020
U.S. Senate
As of February 2020, Club for Growth PAC had endorsed the following 2020 U.S. Senate candidates:
- Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
- Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)
U.S. House
As of February 2020, Club for Growth PAC had endorsed the following 2020 U.S. House candidates:
- Eric Brakey (R-Maine)
- Ted Budd (R-N.C.)
- Steve Chabot (R-Ohio)
- Chris Ekstrom (R-Texas)
- Nick Freitas (R-Va.)
- Bill Hightower (R-Ala.)
- Jeanne Ives (R-Ill.)
- Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)
- Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)
- Scott Perry (R-Pa.)
- Chris Putnam (R-Texas)
- Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.)
- Chip Roy (R-Texas)
- David Schweikert (R-Ariz.)
- Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.)
2018
U.S. Senate
As of November 2017, Club for Growth PAC had endorsed the following 2018 U.S. Senate candidates:[17]
- Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
- Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)
- Josh Mandel (R-Ohio)
- Kevin Nicholson (R-Wis.)
- Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.)
U.S. House
As of November 2017, Club for Growth PAC had endorsed the following 2018 U.S. House candidates:[17]
- Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho)
- Mark Green (R-Tenn.)
- Van Taylor (R-Texas)
2016
President
In the 2016 election cycle, Club for Growth PAC endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in the organization's history. On March 23, 2016, the organization endorsed Republican 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."[18]
U.S. Senate
The Club for Growth PAC endorsed the following 2016 congressional candidates:[19]
- Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.): U.S. Senate[20]
- Pat Toomey (R-Pa.): U.S. Senate
- Mike Lee (R-Utah): U.S. Senate
- Tim Scott (R-S.C.): U.S. Senate
- Ron Johnson (R-Wis.): U.S. Senate
- John Fleming (R-La.): U.S. Senate
- Rand Paul (R-Ky.): U.S. Senate
- Marco Rubio (R-Fla.): U.S. Senate
- Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.): U.S. Senate[20]
U.S. House
The Club for Growth PAC endorsed the following 2016 candidates for U.S. House:[19]
- Mary Thomas (R-Fla.): U.S. House, Florida District 2
- Warren Davidson (R-Ohio): U.S. House, Ohio District 8
- Jim Banks (R-Ind.): U.S. House, Indiana District 3
- Rod Blum (R-Iowa): U.S. House, Iowa District 1
- Ted Budd (R-N.C.): U.S. House, North Carolina District 13
- Mike Crane (R-Ga.): U.S. House, Georgia District 3
- Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.): U.S. House, Florida District 6
- Scott Garrett (R-N.J.): U.S. House, New Jersey District 5
- Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.): U.S. House, Kansas District 1
- Kyle McCarter (R-Ill.): U.S. House, Illinois District 15 - Lost in primary
2014
The Club for Growth PAC endorsed the following candidates in 2014:
- Bryan Smith (R-Idaho): U.S. House, Idaho District 2[21]
- Daniel S. Sullivan (R-Alaska): U.S. Senate[22]
2012
The Club for Growth PAC endorsed a number of candidates in the 2012 elections. The candidates listed below are those that the PAC donated over $10,000 to.[16]
- Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.): U.S. Senate
- Mark Neumann (R-Wis.): U.S. Senate
- Ted Cruz (R-Texas): U.S. Senate
- Richard Mourdock (R-Ind.): U.S. Senate
- Josh Mandel (R-Ohio): U.S. Senate
- Tom Cotton (R-Ark.): U.S. House, Arkansas District 4
- Steve King (R-Iowa): U.S. House, Iowa District 4
- Scott Keadle (R-N.C.): U.S. House, North Carolina District 8
- Ron Gould (R-Ariz): U.S. House, Arizona District 4
The Club for Growth PAC opposed the following candidates in the 2012 elections:[16]
- Richard Carmona (D-Ariz.): U.S. Senate
- Tim Murphy (R-Pa.): U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18)
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Club for Growth PAC's annual contributions and expenditures from 2007 to 2016, as reported to the FEC.
| Annual contributions and expenditures for the Club for Growth PAC, 2007-2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Annual contributions | Annual expenditures | |
| 2016[23] | $1,566,725 | $1,515,379 | |
| 2015[24] | $871,055 | $884,696 | |
| 2014[15] | $2,167,125 | $2,213,894 | |
| 2013[25] | $672,743 | $462,420 | |
| 2012[26] | $303,098 | $625,951 | |
| 2011[27] | $542,706 | $169,303 | |
| 2010[28] | $1,512,577 | $1,921,024 | |
| 2009[29] | $989,884 | $555,301 | |
| 2008[30] | $2,425,619 | $2,937,720 | |
| 2007[31] | $1,062,001 | $496,170 | |
Legal status
Club for Growth PAC is a political action committee (PAC). PACs are political committees established and administered by corporations, labor unions, membership organizations or trade associations. The general definition is a group that spends money on elections, but is not run by a party or individual candidate. However, PACs can donate money to parties or candidates they support. These committees raise funds either from individuals associated with the corporation (Separate Segregated Funds) or from any individuals who wish to contribute to the committee (Nonconnected PACs).[32] Nonconnected PACs are financially independent and pay for themselves via the contributions they raise. Separate segregated funds are funded by the organization they are associated with.[33]
Noteworthy events
Club for Growth and Congressional Leadership Fund primary spending agreement (2022)
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.[34] 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."[35]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Club for Growth PAC. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Club for Growth
- Club for Growth Facebook page
- Club for Growth Twitter feed
- Club for Growth YouTube channel
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Club for Growth, "Club for Growth PAC," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Can the Club for Growth Survive Donald Trump?" October 1, 2016
- ↑ 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 PAC (2007)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "Statement of Organization, Club for Growth PAC (2010)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ CFG, "David McIntosh," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Budget and Spending," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Education," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Entitlements," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Free Trade," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Regulation," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Taxes," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Tort reform," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ Open Secrets, "Independent Expenditures," accessed December 28, 2016
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2014)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedos - ↑ 17.0 17.1 Club for Growth PAC, "Club PAC-Endorsed Candidates," archived November 30, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Club for Growth endorses Ted Cruz," March 23, 2016
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Club for Growth PAC, "Club PAC-Endorsed Candidates," accessed July 12, 2016
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Club for Growth PAC, "Club PAC-Endorsed Candidates," archived September 10, 2015
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Bryan Smith (ID-02)," accessed July 18, 2013
- ↑ Club for Growth, "Club for Growth PAC Endorses Dan Sullivan For U.S. Senate," March 12, 2014
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC (2016)," accessed March 19, 2017
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2015)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2013)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2012)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2011)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2010)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC(2009)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC (2008)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Club for Growth PAC (2007)," accessed March 24, 2016
- ↑ FEC "Quick Answers," accessed August 9, 2013
- ↑ FEC "SSFs vs Nonconnected," accessed August 9, 2013
- ↑ Club for Growth, "About," accessed January 5, 2023
- ↑ 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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