{"id":2339300,"date":"2024-09-10T16:44:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T20:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-transfers-4m-to-senate-republicans-as-leader-race-heats-up-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-10T16:48:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T20:48:33","slug":"thune-transfers-4m-to-senate-republicans-as-leader-race-heats-up-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-transfers-4m-to-senate-republicans-as-leader-race-heats-up-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune transfers $4M to Senate Republicans as leader race heats up- Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-transfers-4m-to-senate-republicans-as-leader-race-heats-up-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2339300&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) has made a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-snubs-gop-leaders-on-new-iran-diplomacy\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Snubs GOP Leaders on New Iran Diplomacy\">significant move<\/a> in the race to succeed\u2064 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as \u200cthe GOP leader by transferring $4\u200d million to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-outraise-democrats-across-the-board-in-january\/\" title=\"Republicans Outraise Democrats Across the Board in January\">campaign arm<\/a> of Senate Republicans. This transfer, which occurred during a lunch hosted by Senator Steve \u2064Daines (R-MT), marks\u2063 the largest \u2063donation in\u200b the organization&#8217;s history. The meeting aimed to provide updates on key Senate\u2063 races as Election Day\u2064 approaches, but it quickly turned into a discussion about leadership ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Rick Scott \u2063(R-FL), another \u2063contender\u200c for the leadership position, also made his presence felt by announcing a $300,000 contribution from his leadership PAC. Meanwhile, Senator \u200cJohn Cornyn (R-TX), another potential candidate, has not reported any recent \u2063transfers but has a strong fundraising history.<\/p>\n<p>The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)\u200d raised over $6.5 million during the lunch, influenced by recent fundraising feats \u200bfrom Democrats, including a $10 million\u200c transfer from Vice President Kamala Harris to\u200b the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Daines\u200b emphasized the need for \u200dGOP resources to compete effectively in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-returning-to-stage-in-upcoming-convention-rallies\/\" title=\"President Trump returning to stage in upcoming convention, rallies\">upcoming races<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Thune has raised a total of $26 million this election cycle, while Cornyn reports $23 million through June. Both candidates are\u200d emphasizing their fundraising successes as they seek \u2062to demonstrate their capability to lead the party after McConnell&#8217;s \u2064planned departure. The competition between Thune and Cornyn has also extended into attempts to align with former President Donald Trump by participating in his fundraisers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thune transfers $4 million to Senate Republicans as leader race heats back up<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1757746\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Senate Minority Whip <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) transferred $4 million to the campaign arm of Senate Republicans on Tuesday, the latest in a battle over who will succeed Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Mitch McConnell\">Mitch McConnell<\/a> (R-KY) as GOP leader.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The transfer, announced during a lunch hosted by Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/steve-daines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Steve Daines<\/a> (R-MT), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is the largest in the organization&rsquo;s history. Thune also set the previous record, $2 million, in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Daines convened the meeting to give an update on where key Senate races stand less than two months out from Election Day. But the lunch, held at NRSC headquarters in Washington, D.C., quickly became another flash point over the leader race.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), another Republican vying to replace McConnell, announced a max-out leadership PAC check of $300,000 during the meeting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for the third candidate, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), has not disclosed whether he made a transfer, but Cornyn has for years been one of the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ruben-gallego-campaign-releases-million-dollar-ad-spot-acknowledging-voters-economic-concerns\/\" title=\"Ruben Gallego&#039;s campaign unveils million-dollar ad addressing voters&#039; economic worries\">prolific fundraisers<\/a> among Senate Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>In total, the NRSC raised more than $6.5 million at the lunch on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. Daines had cited a $10 million transfer Vice President Kamala Harris made to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last week as the impetus for Tuesday&rsquo;s &ldquo;cattle call.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If there&rsquo;s one thing that Kamala Harris can do well, maybe the only thing, it&rsquo;s raise money. So we&rsquo;ve got a gap that we need to close,&rdquo; Daines told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> ahead of the lunch.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got winnable races as we&rsquo;ve expanded this map,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Our biggest challenge right now is getting the resources out to the front lines to win.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fundraising is foundational to the job of GOP leader, with Thune and Cornyn in particular attempting to demonstrate they can fill the shoes of McConnell, who will step down from leadership at the end of the year. Thune has raised $26 million this cycle, according to a source familiar with his fundraising.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Cornyn has raised $23 million through June, the end of the second quarter. He has yet to disclose his fundraising into September.<\/p>\n<p>Raising money is not the only metric by which McConnell&rsquo;s successor will be judged. Cornyn, who served as GOP whip until term-limited out of the job in 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3148143\/john-cornyn-lays-out-vision-senate-gop-become-next-leader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"sent a letter\">sent a letter<\/a> to his colleagues Monday outlining his priorities were he to become leader.<\/p>\n<p>He named extending the 2017 tax cuts that will expire next year and preserving the legislative filibuster among them.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Cornyn and Thune have tried to outdo each other on the fundraising front. Each spent the August recess attending events for the Republicans running in battleground Senate races as special guests.<\/p>\n<p>In a new wrinkle, the two have also tried to signal their support for former President Donald Trump by attending Trump campaign fundraisers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) offers remarks following the Senate Republicans policy luncheon at the Capitol Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey Jr.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The fundraising is meant to build rapport with the Republicans who could join them in the Senate next year, each of whom will get a vote on the next leader. Trump is also expected to weigh in on the race.<\/p>\n<p>But for now, nearly the entire GOP conference remains publicly undecided. Just two Republicans have endorsed in the leader race: Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), each of whom is supporting Thune.<\/p>\n<p>A lot will depend on the outcome of the November election. Even Daines has been floated as a &ldquo;dark horse&rdquo; candidate should Republicans perform particularly well.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Republicans have a favorable map and are all but guaranteed a new seat in West Virginia. But Harris has injected new life at the top of the Democratic ticket and could buoy incumbents in a slate of battleground states.<\/p>\n<p>The seat that could decide the majority, in Montana, is considered a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/senate-race-ratings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>toss-up<\/a>&rdquo; by some political handicappers and &ldquo;leans Republicans,&rdquo; according to others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1757746\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1757746\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) has transferred $4 million to the Senate Republicans&#8217; campaign committee, intensifying the competition to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the GOP leader. This transfer, revealed during a lunch organized by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, marks the largest amount ever transferred in the committee&#8217;s history; Thune previously set a record of $2 million in 2016. The meeting aimed to provide updates on key Senate races with less than two months until Election Day but quickly turned into a focal point for discussions about leadership succession. During this gathering, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), another contender for McConnell&#8217;s position, announced he would contribute $300,000 from his leadership PAC.<\/p>\n<p>While there has been no announcement regarding contributions from Sen. John Cornyn\u2019s (R-TX) team, Cornyn is known for being one of the top fundraisers among Senate Republicans over several years. Overall, more than $6.5 million was raised at Tuesday&#8217;s lunch event according to sources familiar with it.<\/p>\n<p>Daines referenced Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019s recent $10 million donation to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as motivation for their fundraising efforts: \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing that Kamala Harris can do well&#8230; it\u2019s raise money,\u201d he stated before emphasizing their need to close funding gaps and support winnable races.<\/p>\n<p>Fundraising is crucial for anyone aspiring to lead the GOP; both Thune and Cornyn are working hard to prove they can take over McConnell&#8217;s role when he steps down at year-end. So far this election cycle, Thune has raised approximately $26 million while Cornyn reported around $23 million through June.<\/p>\n<p>However, fundraising isn&#8217;t everything\u2014Cornyn recently outlined his priorities should he become leader which include extending tax cuts set to expire next year and maintaining legislative filibuster rules.<\/p>\n<p>Both candidates have been actively participating in events supporting Republican candidates in competitive Senate races throughout August and have also shown support for former President Donald Trump by attending his campaign fundraisers.<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing fundraising efforts aim not only at securing resources but also building relationships with potential new Republican senators who will vote on leadership positions next year; Trump is anticipated to weigh in on this race as well.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, most of the GOP conference remains undecided regarding endorsements\u2014only Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) have publicly backed Thune so far\u2014and much will hinge on November&#8217;s election results where Republicans are expected favorable outcomes including potentially gaining a seat in West Virginia despite challenges posed by Harris energizing Democratic incumbents across battleground states like Montana which some analysts view as competitive or leaning towards Republicans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2339301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/thune-fundraising-cornyn-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33926,40576,35272,23610],"class_list":["post-2339300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-campaign-finance","tag-leadership-race","tag-senate-republicans","tag-thune"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/thune-fundraising-cornyn-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2339300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2339300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2339300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2339300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}