Congressional Leadership Fund
| Congressional Leadership Fund | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | Super PAC |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Top official: | Chris Winkelman, president |
| Year founded: | 2011 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) is a Republican super PAC founded in October 2011. As of September 2025, its website said it is "dedicated exclusively to one goal: winning a Republican Majority in the House of Representatives."[1]
Background
The Congressional Leadership Fund is a PAC associated with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Republican leadership.[2] According to Politico, when the Congressional Leadership Fund was formed in 2011, it was informally known as the "Boehner PAC," as it was generally associated with former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio).[3]
The organization supports Republicans generally in the interests of maintaining a party majority in the U.S. House. It's leadership has been linked to the Republican Party; the group's current president as of July 2025, Chris Winkelman, was formerly executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.[4]
The CLF has a related 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, the American Action Network.
Leadership
As of July 2025, Chris Winkelman is the president of the CLF.[5]
Work and activities
Political activities
| Super PACs |
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| Read more about super PACs and the super PACs covered on Ballotpedia. |
As an organization designed to only make independent expenditures, the Congressional Leadership Fund purchases advertising time. The ads that the organization runs either support or oppose candidates based on how they align with the super PAC's mission of maintaining a Republican majority in the U.S. House.[6] The group has the Trailblazers Fund, which CLF calls its "hard-dollar arm, which endorses and provides direct financial support to key Republican candidates with the ability to help grow the House Majority."[7]
In a 2014 report, the Congressional Leadership Fund noted that the group had three tactics for their advertising campaigns. They focused on advertising in October, they forced House Democrats to move money away from gaining seats in order to protect incumbents being challenged by CLF, and they spent on races they felt Republicans could hold in the future.[8]
2024 elections
The Congressional Leadership Fund released a list of 20 endorsees as part of its Trailblazers Fund on April 3, 2024.[9]
2022 elections
The Congressional Leadership Fund released the following list of its Trailblazers Fund-endorsed candidates on January 5, 2022.[10]
| CLF Trailblazers Fund endorsements, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Candidate | |||
| Arizona's 6th | Juan Ciscomani | |||
| Illinois' 17th | Esther Joy King | |||
| Kansas' 3rd | Amanda Adkins | |||
| Maine's 2nd | Bruce Poliquin | |||
| Montana's 1st | Ryan Zinke | |||
| New Jersey's 7th | Thomas Kean Jr. | |||
| Texas' 8th | Morgan Luttrell | |||
| Texas' 15th | Monica De La Cruz | |||
| Texas' 38th | Wesley Hunt | |||
| Virginia's 2nd | Jennifer Kiggans | |||
| Wisconsin's 3rd | Derrick Van Orden | |||
2020 elections
On March 5, 2019, the Congressional Leadership Fund announced the following 55 targeted districts for the 2020 election season. The organization identified 31 Trump country seats within districts Trump carried in the 2016 presidential election and 24 opportunity districts.[11]
2017 elections
In May 2017, the Congressional Leadership Fund began airing advertisements targeting Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate in a special election to represent Georgia's 6th Congressional District. The group announced that it had purchased $6.5 million in advertising leading up to the election.[12] One ad attacked Ossoff’s campaign contributions from California, claiming, “California is the leading funder of the Jon Ossoff campaign.”[13] The CLF had spent $7 million in independent expenditures in the race as of June 13. According to a June 2017 Roll Call article, the race for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District became, as of that time, the most expensive U.S. House race in history.[14]
2016 elections
In August 2016, Politico reported that the CLF had planned $10 million in expenditures to begin in August, earlier than the organization typically announced its expenditures. The site reported, "The spending includes $7.4 million for TV ads in nine districts. About $3.4 million of the $10 million total will go toward efforts to pick up seats currently held by Democrats, and $1.5 million will be used to initiate GOP ground games in California and New York."[15] According to Politico, the ad buys were set to begin in October, aiming to support the campaigns of:[15]
- Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.)
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
- John Katko (R-N.Y.)
- Will Hurd (R-Texas)
- Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.)
- David Young (R-Iowa)
- Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.)
- Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.)
- Steve Knight (R-Calif.)
2014 elections
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $10,098,748 on the 2014 elections.[16]
The Congressional Leadership Fund endorsed the following candidates in the 2014 elections:[16]
- Lynn Jenkins (KS-2)
- Martha McSally (AZ-2)
- Lee Terry (NE-2)
- Barbara Comstock (VA-10)
- Bruce Poliquin (ME-02)
- Bob Dold (IL-10)
- Mike Coffman (CO-06)
The Congressional Leadership opposed the following candidates in 2014:[16]
- Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
- Ron Barber (AZ-2)
- John Foust (VA-10)
- Pete Gallego (TX-23)
- Ami Bera (CA-07)
- Brad Schneider (IL-10)
- Gwen Graham (FL-02)
- Scott Peters (CA-52)
- Seth Moulton (MA-06)
- William Enyart (IL-12)
- Collin Peterson (MN-02)
- Julia Brownley (CA-26)
- Andrew Romanoff (CO-06)
- Brad Ashford (NE-02)
- Emily Cain (ME-02)
- Blaine Richardson (ME-02)
- Tim Bishop (NY-01)
- Erin Bilbray (NV-03)
In the 2014 elections the Congressional Leadership Fund spent a grand total of $10,098,748, the top ten of it in opposition of Democratic candidates.[16]
| Top 10 largest Congressional Leadership Fund expenditures in 2014[16] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | Desired Result |
| Carol Shea-Porter |  |
NH | House | $1,551,903 | $0 | $1,551,903 |  |
| Ron Barber | |
AZ | House | $1,225,196 | $0 | $1,225,196 | |
| John Foust | |
VA | House | $1,108,120 | $0 | $1,108,120 | |
| Pete Gallego | |
TX | House | $1,047,902 | $0 | $1,047,902 | |
| Ami Bera | |
CA | House | $972,804 | $0 | $972,804 |  |
| Brad Schneider | |
IL | House | $940,737 | $0 | $940,737 | |
| Gwen Graham | |
FL | House | $555,969 | $0 | $555,969 | |
| Scott Peters | |
CA | House | $512,797 | $0 | $512,797 | |
| Seth Moulton | |
MA | House | $494,832 | $0 | $494,832 | |
| William Enyart | |
IL | House | $472,581 | $0 | $472,581 | |
2012 elections
According to the Sunlight Foundation, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $9,450,237 on the 2012 elections. Of those funds, 58 percent achieved the desired result, based on Sunlight Foundation analysis.[17] Open Secrets also analyzed the success of 2012 general election cycle spending:[18]
The Congressional Leadership Fund spent no money in support of candidates in the 2012 elections:[19]
The Congressional Leadership opposed the following candidates in 2012:[19]
In the 2012 elections the Congressional Leadership Fund spent a grand total of $9,450,223, all of it in opposition of Democratic candidates.[19]
| Top 10 largest Congressional Leadership Fund expenditures in 2012[19] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | For | Against | Desired Result |
| Betty Sutton | |
OH | House | $2,743,676 | $0 | $2,743,676 | |
| Pete Gallego | |
TX | House | $1,093,933 | $0 | $1,093,933 | |
| Kathy Hochul | |
NY | House | $890,366 | $0 | $890,366 | |
| Brad Schneider | |
IL | House | $829,421 | $0 | $829,421 | |
| Pat Kreitlow | |
WI | House | $675,072 | $0 | $675,072 | |
| Shelley Adler | |
NJ | House | $627,114 | $0 | $627,114 | |
| Kyrsten Sinema | |
AZ | House | $572,747 | $0 | $572,747 | |
| Mike McIntyre | |
NC | House | $520,030 | $0 | $520,030 | |
| Lois Capps | |
CA | House | $512,378 | $0 | $512,378 | |
| Leonard Boswell | |
IA | House | $438,336 | $0 | $438,336 | |
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Congressional Leadership Fund's contributions received and expenditures from 2011-2024 fiscal years, as reported to the Federal Election Commission.
| Year | Contributions | Expenditures |
|---|---|---|
| 2024[20] | $183,953,144 | $236,761,724 |
| 2023[21] | $59,288,723 | $5,841,525 |
| 2022[22] | $195,097,307 | $255,324,349 |
| 2021[23] | $65,493,740 | $4,716,178 |
| 2020[24] | $133,121,976 | $160,736,740 |
| 2019[25] | $32,619,351 | $5,186,317 |
| 2018[26] | $130,890,565 | $145,516,710 |
| 2017[27] | $26,918,647 | $13,222,185 |
| 2016[28] | $50,309,795 | $49,655,073 |
| 2015[29] | $743,224 | $400,939 |
| 2014[30] | $11,530,039 | $11,879,893 |
| 2013[31] | $1,082,658 | $684,878 |
| 2012[32] | $11,155,986 | $10,768,365 |
| 2011[33] | $130,604 | $42,643 |
Noteworthy events
Club for Growth and Congressional Leadership Fund primary spending agreement (2022)
On January 5, 2023, the Club for Growth, a PAC that "endorses and raises money for candidates who stay true to the fundamental principles of limited government and economic freedom," announced it would support Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) bid for speaker of the House after coming to an agreement with the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) regarding spending in Republican primaries.[34] CLF President Dan Conston said, "CLF will not spend in any open-seat primaries in safe Republican districts and CLF will not grant resources to other super PAC’s to do so. [...] CLF will continue to support incumbents in primaries as well as challengers in districts that affect the Majority."
Club for Growth President David McIntosh said, "This agreement on super PAC’s fulfills a major concern we have pressed for. We understand that Leader McCarthy and Members are working on a rules agreement that will meet the principles we have set out previously. Assuming these principles are met, Club for Growth will support Kevin McCarthy for Speaker."[35]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Congressional Leadership Fund'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "About the Congressional Leadership Fund," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "CLF & AAN Raise Over $60 Million in First Half of 2025," July 14, 2025
- ↑ Politico, "Get to know a Super PAC: Congressional Leadership Fund," July 23, 2012
- ↑ Politico, "Top House GOP super PAC taps new president," December 4, 2024
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "The Republican Strategy to Win Without Trump on the Ballot," July 8, 2025
- ↑ Punchbowl News, "A new batch of CLF ads," October 23, 2024
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "CLF Announces First “Trailblazers” Endorsements of 2024 Cycle," April 3, 2024
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "Outside Money & the 2014 Wave," November 5, 2014
- ↑ Twitter, "James Downs on April 3, 2024," accessed April 4, 2024
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "CLF announces first 'Trailblazers' endorsements of the 2022 cycle," January 5, 2022
- ↑ Congressional Leadership Fund, "How Republicans Win Back the House in 2020," accessed March 10, 2019
- ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Pours Millions More Into Georgia Runoff," April 29, 2017
- ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Goes After Ossoff’s Out-of-State Money," May 9, 2017
- ↑ Roll Call, "GOP Super PAC Releases Closing Ad Against Jon Ossoff," June 13, 2017
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Politico, "Super PAC launches $10 million effort to protect House GOP," August 22, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Center for Responsive Politics, "Targeted Candidates," accessed March 10, 2015
- ↑ Sunlight Foundation, "Outside spenders' return on investment," November 14, 2012
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Congressional Leadership Fund," accessed July 22, 2013
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Open Secrets, "Congressional Leadership Fund Recipients, 2012," accessed July 22, 2013
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2024," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2023," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2022," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2021," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2020," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2019," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2018," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2017," accessed September 2, 2025
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2016," May 17, 2017
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2015," January 31, 2016
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2014," January 31, 2015
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2013," January 31, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2012," January 31, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Congressional Leadership Fund Year-End Report, 2011," January 31, 2012
- ↑ Club for Growth, "About," accessed January 5, 2023
- ↑ Club for Growth, "CLF & Club for Growth Come to Key Agreement In Support of Kevin McCarthy for Speaker," accessed January 5, 2023
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