2022 Election

Trump is sitting on a property. Republicans want it for midterms.

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump has more than $110 million in campaign cash at a time when his party is trying to take control of Congress — and it’s starting to upset some in the GOP.

They’re watching him monetize his constant email invitations to the party’s small donor base and at VIP receptions connected to a full schedule of rallies. campaign. And they see a man stockpiling a war chest for another presidential run instead of using his power to boost the party.

Through his “Save America” ​​super PAC to support Republicans, Trump slams $205,000 for 41 federal candidates through February 28, the final day to be revealed campaign finances his most recent. Much of that money has gone to Republicans running for safe seats or against incumbents. he hatesrather than competitive races that are likely to help determine which party wins the House and Senate by mid-term November.

In the weeks since the latest revelation, Trump has endorsed a number of additional candidates fighting for the swivel chair. His endorsement is usually accompanied by a check for $5,000 – the maximum direct contribution a super PAC can make.

Former Republican campaigners and insiders say they are disappointed but not surprised by what they describe as the former president’s combination of stinginess and selfishness.

A former Trump campaign official said there was no way Trump “spent any money on these people mid-term,” adding that the former president was raising money for himself.

“He doesn’t share money well,” the person said in an interview, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid backlash from the former president and those in his orbit.

While current fundamentals suggest the GOP is on track to make substantial gains this fall, some Republicans worry the party could leave the House and Senate seats if Trump doesn’t dig deeper. into his war treasure to help the battlefield candidates in the coming months.

“It pisses me off,” said Dan Eberhart, a GOP donor based in Arizona, who noted that Trump doesn’t even make a perfunctory contribution directly to help allies who have already made a perfunctory contribution. secured his approval, much less than that of the party’s candidates. rely on trying to win a majority. “It’s pretty selfish.”

Representatives for Trump did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

President Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference
President Donald Trump at the time at CPAC 2019 in National Harbor, Md.Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images

For the most part, Trump has interested in choosing the winner in the Republican Party primariesOne The tactic could create a pool of loyalists in Congress and state offices due to arrive in November but may not have much of an impact on the GOP’s winning administration majority. In addition to the federal candidates, “Save America” ​​has spread $145,500 to 29 hopes at the state level.

In some cases, candidates blessed by Trump have struggled to make ends meet. In Wyoming, where Trump Endorses Harriet Hageman in Her GOP Preliminary Bid against Congressman Liz CheneyHageman has raised less than $750,000 through the end of 2021.

Cheney, who drew Trump’s fury by voting for accusation him during the January 6 attack on the Capitol and by joining the House panel investigating the riots, raised $7.2 million last year and had $4.7 million in banks when the reporting period ends on 31 December.

In South Carolina’s District 1, Representative Nancy Mace, RS.C., angered Trump by criticizing him on January 6 — even though she did not vote to impeach him. Mace made $3 million and had $1.5 million left at the end of last year. She is facing two main opponents, one of them – Katie Arrington – has having trouble gaining traction despite Trump’s endorsement.

Of the 72 battlegrounds identified by the Republican National Congressional Committee last week, Trump donated to only two candidates: Ryan Zinke of Montana and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin. In one example, since Florida hasn’t finished redrawing its congressional lines for midterms, it remains to be seen whether Anna Paulina Luna, a candidate endorsed and sponsored by Trump, can find yourself in one of the NRCC’s battlefields.

Subsequent reports, due April 20, are likely to show that Trump has donated in at least some of these counties.

Trump advertised by headlined the big dollar fundraising dinner for the House campaign branchand will do so again in the near future.

“I’m really grateful for his help in doing that,” NRCC President, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said during a meeting with reporters last week. But he hinted at the duality of Trump’s shadow in midterms: He’s both the most powerful force in the GOP and a potential anchor for several candidates in surrounding areas. .

“This next election is not about President Trump,” Emmer said. “This next election will be a referendum on Joe Biden and the absolute defeat of the Democrats on the economy and crime, at the border, on everything else they’ve touched.”

With Trump sitting on his millions, Republican national fundraisers have been able to bring in big bucks of their own. This week, the Republican National Senate Committee announced it raised $43 million in the first quarter and $13.28 million in March alone, the highest amount it has raised. for each fund in its history. And Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced that he raised $31.5 million in the first quarter and $104 million this cycle. McCarthy transferred more than $37 million to the NRCC.

A national GOP strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the subject, said that Trump “has an opportunity to do a very positive thing” by investing in campaigns. field in which the Republican Party intends to compete, which will help him build “goodwill” among party loyalists.

“And if there’s still room on the table because he’s stockpiling hundreds of millions of dollars and not spending it on helping candidates,” the person said, “that’s going to leave a bad taste in his mouth.” everyone”.

“No one expected him to spend that money to help the party,” the person added. “But he has been helpful in other ways.”

The former Trump campaign official said calls for where the former president’s money could be used to good effect for Republican candidates would be made on a county-by-county basis if Trump intends to part with a larger sum.

“You determine the races the Republicans can win and Trump polls well,” he said.

“There are counties where Trump could hurt the Republican candidate,” the source added. “There’s no question about that. But there are more counties where he can help them. And so you’re targeting those counties. … I don’t think the Trump team knows how to do that. . I don’t think Trump’s team cares much about doing it.”

In addition to direct contributions to campaigns, which are limited by federal law, a super PAC can independently spend unlimited amounts of money to help candidates.

Trump’s decision to reverse the purpose of a super PAC – spend limited money on other candidates while hoarding cash that could be used in his own potential 2024 presidential run – unsuitable for many Republicans.

“All the money he raised himself, it wouldn’t go to the candidates,” said former Representative Barbara Comstock, R-Va, who has long been critical of the former president. “I think they [Republicans] is seeing that it’s all about him and he doesn’t care about Republicans getting a majority. “

That was evident, she said, as Trump focused on backing the main challengers to the Republican incumbents who had already overtaken him.

“If you’re a Republican running on a rocking chair, you’re a little annoyed that a ton of money is going to be wasted on a rocking chair. Liz Cheney in a Republican seat instead of winning those revolving seats that would get us a majority in the House? ‘ Comstock asked eloquently.

Trump’s continued mining of cash for his own super PACs – he often sends out multiple solicitations per day – means it’s more likely that small-dollar donors have dried up and are less inclined to give money away. Other Republican candidates, such as one GOP employee, have requested anonymity to avoid drawing outrage from the former president, told NBC News.

“It’s a big deal,” said the moderator.

And there is no reason to expect Trump to change his approach to support his Republican comrades, a former second campaign adviser said on condition of anonymity to avoid angering the former president. .

“He didn’t spend any money to win any elections” for which he was not a candidate, the former adviser said.

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