Congressional Leadership Fund boosted both incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (pictured) and one of his primary opponents, former Orange County GOP Chair Scott Baugh. | Saul Loeb/Getty Images Republican super PAC secretly promoted candidates in California

A House GOP leadership-backed super PAC secretly picked favorites in three high-profile California primaries to be decided Tuesday that could help to decide control of the chamber.

Republican leadership typically stays out of contested primaries where incumbents are not seeking reelection. But in April, Congressional Leadership Fund, a group closely aligned with House Speaker Paul Ryan, funneled about $1.5 million to American Future Fund, an Iowa-based outside Republican organization, according to a CLF official.


American Future Fund, which is overseen by longtime GOP strategist Nick Ryan, then aired TV commercials, sent out mailers, and dispatched door-knockers across three sprawling Orange County-based districts. Over 400,000 doors were knocked on.

The advertising onslaught was aimed at boosting six Republicans competing in Tuesday’s “jungle primary,“ in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

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None of the commercials identified Congressional Leadership Fund as a sponsor. The super PAC was concerned that if their meddling was known it could have unintended consequences by inviting blowback from conservative activists.

The strategy was borne in April, when Congressional Leadership Fund conducted surveys in the districts left vacant by the upcoming retirements of GOP Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. The polls, the CLF official said, found that Republicans were at risk of being locked out of the November general election in both races, a potentially disastrous scenario for the party, which is struggling to hold onto their 23-seat House majority.

Particularly concerning was that some Republican candidates in both districts were lagging in fundraising.

In California’s 48th District, Congressional Leadership Fund boosted both incumbent Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and one of his primary opponents, former Orange County GOP Chair Scott Baugh.

Down the coast, the groups aired ads to bolster turnout for two Republicans — Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, and state assemblyman Rocky Chavez — who are competing in a crowded field of candidates.

“Two great Republicans — Diane Harkey, tax-cutting champion. Harkey will create jobs,” said one TV ad. “Rocky Chavez, retired Marine. Chavez will strengthen our military. Republicans, Harkey or Chavez."

Aside from Harkey and Chavez, six other Republican candidates are running to replace Issa, including Brian Maryott, a San Juan Capistrano city councilman Brian Maryott, who has self-funded, and Kristin Gaspar, a San Diego County supervisor.

In California’s 39th District, seven Republicans are running, but the Congressional Leadership Fund opted to elevate only two of them: Assemblywoman Young Kim and former state Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff.

The National Republican Campaign Committee stays out of open primaries, but it has added several California Republicans to its “Young Guns” program, which provides fundraising and infrastructure support to candidates. Some Young Guns did not receive help from Congressional Leadership Fund, including Gaspar.

But the NRCC did spend six-figures on digital ads in all three districts, aiming to amp up GOP turnout without naming any specific candidate.

House Democrats are also at risk of a top-two lockout in the three districts. It has led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to endorse candidates in two of the races. The DCCC has also spent millions of dollars on TV ads to drive turnout.

