Sheldon Adelson has written a $30 million check to the House GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund, which is a massive donation that top Republicans hope will alter the party’s electoral outcome six months before Election Day.
Politico reported that the donation was sealed last week when House Speaker Paul Ryan went to Las Vegas in order to meet with the billionaire at his Venetian Hotel. At the meeting with Adelson was his wife, Miriam; Norm Coleman, the former Minnesota senator who chairs the Republican Jewish Coalition; Corry Bliss, who oversees the super PAC; and Jake Kastan, Ryan’s No. 2 political aide.
They made their case to the Las Vegas casino mogul about how crucial and important it is to protect the House.
However, because Ryan is a federally elected official he is not allowed to solicit seven-figure political donations, so when Ryan left the room Coleman secured the $30 million contributions.
The contribution is scheduled to be announced to the public later this month in the organization’s campaign finance filing.
The donation comes at a problematic time for House Republicans as they are faced with difficulty with saving their majority.
Democrats have had a series of successful fundraising hauls in the lead up to November’s contests, as 40 House Democratic candidates outraised Republican incumbents in the first fundraising quarter of 2018, this prompted the GOP leader to ask a bigger donation from Adelson then he usually gives.
The $30 million donation is three times bigger then what Adelson gave to CLF in 2016
Adelson also funded the annual retreat that was hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition last year. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Ryan addressed the conference showing their gratitude to the Las Vegas billionaire.
According to Politico, CLF is one part of a two-pronged political organization designed to protect and bolster House Republicans. CLF is a super PAC, and the American Action Network is a nonprofit that boosts center-right policies. Ryan, and John Boehner before him, have backed the groups.
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