The Congressional Leadership Fund is moving to protect some of the most vulnerable members of Paul Ryan's Republican majority. | Getty Super PAC launches $10 million effort to protect House GOP

A leading super PAC aligned with House Republicans will unveil a record $10 million in spending on Monday in a dozen of the most competitive House districts – a sign of the party’s efforts to rally behind Speaker Paul Ryan and avoid a down-ballot bloodbath.

The Congressional Leadership Fund is entering the general election fray earlier than it has in the past, and with more cash in its war chest to defend the GOP’s historically large House majority.


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.

The beneficiaries include some of the most vulnerable Republicans on the ballot this fall. CLF is reserving $1.7 million for cable and digital advertisements to boost Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who represents the southern-most tip of Florida. The ads are set to air in the expensive TV market starting Oct. 23. The group's ads in several other districts are also slated to begin in October.

CLF also said it will spend nearly $1.2 million to ensure former FBI agent Brian Fitzpatrick secures his brother’s seat, retiring Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.); $800,000 each to back both New York Rep. John Katko and Texas’ Will Hurd; $600,000 to hold onto retiring Wisconsin Rep. Reid Ribble’s seat; and smaller stashes for Reps. David Young of Iowa, Lee Zeldin and Chris Gibson of New York and Steve Knight of California.

CLF president Mike Shields said this is just the first wave in spending, suggesting the group’s outlays will easily eclipse the $11.6 million and $10.7 million it spent in 2014 and 2012, respectively. CLF is also ramping up weeks earlier than before: In 2014, its first investment was announced in mid-September.

“People want to make sure the House is protected,” said Shields, who also leads American Action Network, which is closely connected to Ryan and his leadership team. Shields acknowledged the GOP's uncertain prospects in the race for president and control of the Senate — many Republicans worry Democrats will prevail in both cases — but said donors know that “we have to protect the House and build the firewall. And they have a tremendous amount of faith in the job that Speaker Ryan is doing and want to make sure he has the largest functional majority that he can have.”

Indeed, Shields said donors are responding well to the speaker’s pitch to make the GOP a party of substance and ideas, in contrast to the campaign Trump has run. While Ryan doesn’t solicit money directly on behalf of CLF, the group and its sister organization, American Action Network, are known for their close ties to House leadership.

“There’s a very positive feeling about Speaker Ryan and what he’s working to achieve,” Shields said. “There are new donors to our organization because… they’ve heard his message: that we need to be a proposition party that actually stands for something. There is a real hunger among supporters of House Republicans for that message.”

Texas Republican Will Hurd is among those who will get support. | AP Photo

With more than $40 million in independent expenditures over the past two election cycles, CLF and AAN have played a major role financially in helping the National Republican Congressional Committee win dozens of House races. Republicans have a 247-188 advantage in the House. Democrats would need to pick up 30 seats to capture the chamber, which is seen as highly unlikely.

CLF is also channeling several million dollars to three districts currently held by Democrats. Some $1.4 million to help sheriff Scott Jones defeat Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), whose father was recently sentenced to a year in prison for a money-laundering scheme that benefited Bera’s campaigns. The group will spend $1.3 million to try to win Rep. Patrick Murphy’s seat in southeast Florida, and $720,000 backing Air Force veteran Don Bacon against Rep. Brad Ashford (D-Neb.).

“The Democrats have tried to push this myth that the House is in play and Republicans are vulnerable, but that’s simply not the case,” Shields said. The trio of Democratic-held districts, he added, “are ones where we can pick up more seats. … Those are winnable.”

The announcement also includes $1.5 million for turnout operations in California and New York. While House members often benefit from solid GOP infrastructure already in place in presidential and Senate battleground states, including Ohio, Florida, Colorado and Pennsylvania, Democrats have a distinct advantage in undisputed blue territory.

The Congressional Leadership Fund has also hired two media firms that use micro-targeting to reach voters. CLF will also pay for digital media, some mailers and get out the vote efforts.