In 2020, Koch Network will Target Nearly 200 Races

As Democratic candidates Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg are about to find out, money does not always guarantee popularity. And while neither candidate has a chance at winning the primary, we can expect both of them to continue pouring money into the election after they drop out.

Acting as an important counter to their efforts is mega-donor Charles Koch and his political organization, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), which recently announced plans to engage in nearly 200 federal and state elections this year.

The group targeted 64 races in the 2018 midterms after raising nearly $97 million.

“We’ve made more progress in the past five years than I’ve made in the previous 50,” said Mr. Koch last year. “We’re just getting started because we have more opportunities in front of us than I ever imagined.”

In response to questions about the organization’s recent shift away from partisan issues (including support for Democrats), AFP CEO Emily Seidel said, “The people who thought that we may have been backing down from politics are going to be surprised, because the reality is we’ve been strengthening our capabilities to go bigger than ever before.”

AFP has already announced support for House Republicans Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), Ted Budd (NC), Steve Chabot (OH), and Scotty Perry (PA) and GOP Senators John Cornyn (TX), Steve Daines (MT), Cory Gardner (CO), David Perdue (GA), and Thom Tillis (NC) as well as Senator Tom Tiffany (R-WI), who seeks to fill the House seat that opened up when Rep. Sean Duffy resigned last August.

“We’re not looking for Democrats. We’re not looking for Republicans,” added Seidel. “We’re looking for people who are committed to driving on these policies that we believe will help improve the lives of all Americans.”

Mr. Koch and the AFP are not expected to endorse a candidate for the presidential election.