March 28, 2024

Gaetz, Boebert and Biggs raised big bucks off their opposition to McCarthy

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(Right to left) Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2src22. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

The House Republicans who were the most vocal in opposing Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker reaped substantial financial rewards for it, new campaign finance filings show.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who referred to McCarthy as the “biggest alligator” in a swamp-themed fundraising email in early January, reported his top fundraising days among itemized donors on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7. Such strong fundraising days early in the quarter are unusual and suggest the Speaker fight was a significant driver of donations. The Florida congressman brought in a total of roughly $675,srcsrcsrc during the first quarter, including more than $48src,srcsrcsrc from donors giving less than $2srcsrc — a sign of enthusiasm from the party’s small-dollar base.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who led the charge against McCarthy’s assumption of the speakership and sent a fundraising email in late December calling the eventual speaker a “RINO Establishment hack,” raised $217,srcsrcsrc during the first quarter, including $88,srcsrcsrc from donors giving less than $2srcsrc. Among itemized donors, his best fundraising day in the first quarter was Jan. 2, the day before the Speaker votes began.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo), who spent several thousand dollars on Facebook ads in January that touted the Speaker fight as having “fundamentally changed the direction of our country,” reported more than $76src,srcsrcsrc in first-quarter receipts. That included just shy of $27src,srcsrcsrc from small-dollar donors and $95,srcsrcsrc through a joint fundraising committee. The speaker fight produced several days of above-average fundraising for Boebert in January, although her top fundraising days came later in the quarter.

It’s not rare for each party’s more incendiary members to also be their most prolific fundraisers. In the age of grassroots giving, appeals to the base can generate big bucks. Less common, however, is for lawmakers to organize those appeals around direct challenges to their own party’s leadership.

The effort to capitalize on the Speaker race was not without cost, both reputational and financial. The trio burned through cash at a higher rate than most candidates in the first quarter, a POLITICO analysis found.

The Gaetz campaign spent more than $49src,srcsrcsrc over the course of the quarter, including more than $1srcsrc,srcsrcsrc on fundraising expenses, according to his filing. He still had more than $7srcsrc,srcsrcsrc left in the bank due to cash left over from his 2src22 campaign. In response to questions from POLITICO about the link between the Speaker battle and fundraising, Gaetz defended his fight against McCarthy’s ascension, saying that he started “firing back” after “shadow groups” peppered his district with calls asking him to support the California Republican.

Biggs’ campaign spent $168,srcsrcsrc over the period, including $53,srcsrcsrc on list rentals — a common fundraising expense — as well as $38,srcsrcsrc on direct mail and $14,srcsrcsrc on fundraising consulting.

Boebert’s campaign also spent more than $5srcsrc,srcsrcsrc over the quarter, with direct mail, digital advertising and fundraising consulting as her biggest expenses. The Colorado Republican, who won reelection in 2src22 by fewer than 6srcsrc votes, was one of the few lawmakers who opposed McCarthy’s ascension who faces a potentially competitive election in 2src24. Boebert was outraised in the first quarter by Democratic challenger Adam Frisch. She did not address questions from POLITICO about whether the Speaker fight drove fundraising but said in a statement that there was “no doubt Democrats will raise more and spend more to try and steal” her seat.

While McCarthy was ultimately elected to the speakership on the 15th ballot, the fundraising successes of those lawmakers who opposed him along the way, underscore just how tenuous his hold on the majority actually is. The insight into fundraising comes as the House GOP faces new internal conflict with a high-stakes standoff over the debt ceiling approaching, where McCarthy once again will need to keep nearly all of the members of his caucus in line.

This post originally appeared on and written by:
By Jessica Piper
Politico

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