Koch Brothers Network Spending Over $42 Million on GOP Senate Races

Charles and David Koch's political network is taking action in key states, with the goal of helping the Republican Party keep its majority in the Senate, according to the Washington Post.

The Kochs' network has spent $12.4 million in this election cycle, and plans another $30 million in ads for Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin races. The network also plans more ads in Florida, the Post reported.

The network's super PAC, Freedom Partners Action Fund, has focused its latest campaign on Ohio, supporting Sen. Rob Portman in his race against Democratic former governor Ted Strickland. A campaign video calls job losses when Strickland was governor "devastating."

James Davis, executive director of the Freedom Partners Action Fund, said the network is "looking to maximize the number of freedom-oriented senators."

Strickland's camp told USA Today that Portman was a "puppet" of the Koch brothers.

One official at the network told Politico that the Koch network increased its staff by 50 percent in 2015 at its associated groups, which include Americans for Prosperity, the LIBRE Initiative, and Generation Opportunity.

This spending comes after National Review reported that the brothers are planning to cut down on their involvement in federal elections to "return to their roots" and focus on advocacy and education.


Related Stories:

• Koch Brothers Remain Out of the Fray This Campaign Season
• Koch Brothers Still Mull Hillary Support, Turned Off by Trump's 'Personal Attacks and Mudslinging'