Club for Growth Action (CFG Action) is a right-of-center Super PAC that aims to elect candidates who are pro-growth and support limited-government policy to both the U.S. House and Senate. CFG Action’s strategy includes providing support to conservative candidates in order to win primaries against moderate Republicans, protecting incumbent Republicans who have consistently voted to support limited government, and defeating Democrats and replacing with pro-growth conservatives. 1
Activities
In 2022, Club for Growth Action’s only goal was to reclaim conservative Republican control of the U.S. House and Senate. CFG Action used a combination of television ads, direct mailings, and digital campaigns to help conservative candidates win Republican primaries across the country and continued to use targeted marketing to help these candidates win general elections. 1 Club for Growth Action spent nearly $10 million on the 2022 Arizona Senate race between Blake Masters (R) and incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D), with targeted ads against Kelly, accusing him of reckless spending and claiming he voted to confirm judges that are soft on crime. 2
Club for Growth Action also launched substantial marketing campaigns in other 2022 Senate races. CFG Action spent nearly $15 million on ads and Hispanic outreach for the Nevada race supporting Adam Laxalt (R) and more than $8 million, in conjunction with the Crypto Freedom PAC, in support of Senator Mike Lee’s (R) reelection in the Utah Senate race. Additionally, CFG Action funded ads against Cheri Beasley (D) in the North Carolina Senate race and Wiley Nickel (D) in the race for U.S. Congress representing North Carolina 13th District. 3
In past elections, Club for Growth Action, along with members of the Club for Growth, have helped elect conservative candidates to the U.S. Congress and Senate. They include Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tim Scott (R-SC), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Ted Budd (R-NC). 1
People
David McIntosh is the president of both CFG Action and the Club for Growth, and a cofounder of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, where he is the vice chair of the board. McIntosh is a former U.S. Representative from Indiana and formerly worked as special assistant to former Attorney General Edwin Meese III during the Reagan administration and as executive director of the President’s Council on Competitiveness during the George H.W. Bush administration. 4
Funding
Club for Growth Action is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. Some of CFG’s largest donors include Richard Uihlein ($24.7 million in 2022), Jeff Yass ($14 million in 2022), and Virginia James ($2.9 million in 2022). 5
References
- “Club for Growth Action.” Club for Growth, 2022. Accessed December 9, 2022. https://www.clubforgrowth.org/about/club-for-growth-action.
- Kildea, Joe. “ICYMI: Club for Growth Action Increasing AZSEN Spending & Releasing New Ad.” Club for Growth, November 2, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.clubforgrowth.org/icymi-club-for-growth-action-increasing-azsen-spending-releasing-new-ad/.
- [1] Kildea, Joe. “Club for Growth Action Mid-Term Election Update.” Club for Growth, October 31, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.clubforgrowth.org/club-for-growth-action-mid-term-election-update/.
- “David McIntosh.” Club for Growth, 2022. Accessed December 9, 2022. https://www.clubforgrowth.org/staff/david-mcintosh/.
- “Club for Growth Action PAC Donors.” OpenSecrets. Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/club-for-growth-action/C00487470/donors/2022.