Koch Network Launches New Super PAC Prior to Midterm Election

The Koch network, founded by brothers Charles and David Koch, announced it will be adding another super PAC to its portfolio.

The super PAC, known as AFP Action, will help the Koch network make more of “an impact” in the political sphere according to network’s spokesmen Bill Riggs. 

“Our mission is to help improve lives by breaking the barriers holding people back, and that requires building the policy coalitions in Washington to get it done,” said Riggs in a statement. “Americans for Prosperity has been a difference-maker supporting policy champions in tight races, and AFP Action is a new tool that will allow us to expand those efforts and make an even larger impact.”

According to Politico, this new super PAC “will give Koch network’s largest arm — Americans for Prosperity — significantly more leeway to push lawmakers directly on political issues, adding another tool to AFP’s arsenal at a moment when the Koch network is trying to assert its power in Washington.” 

The Koch network, which has plans to drop at least $400 million this election cycle, can now spend even more money to support political activities. 

“Americans for Prosperity’s existing organization, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, is required by law to spend a significant amount of money on “social welfare” activities and cannot expressly urge voters to cast ballots for or against a member of Congress. But the new AFP Action super PAC can expand that work by spending unlimited sums of money on political activities,” writes Politico. 

Riggs also said that the network has been planning to release the new super PAC since January, but he did not mention if it would be affiliated with a particular party.  

Although the Koch network has been notoriously libertarian-leaning and has supported conservative values for years, the network’s co-founder Charles Koch, who did not vote for Trump for president in 2016, has been feuding with the RNC recently.

“Koch and top network officials announced last month that Republicans should no longer take their financial support for granted unless they support free trade and oppose bloated government spending. Koch did not support Trump for president in 2016,” wrote USA Today in early August. “The battle escalated last week when RNC chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel wrote an email to GOP donors warning them to stay away from Koch.”

The Koch network has vowed to outraise the RNC by $150 million during this year’s election period. 

That being said, the Koch network has spent roughly $6 million on attack ads against three Democratic candidates and has only advocated for Republican candidates. 

Author’s note: The Koch network already wields a lot of influence and this new super PAC will give it even more power. This causes us to beg this question yet again, should this much political influence be in the hands of these two brothers?