Americans for Prosperity Action (Koch network) spent $54M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Republicans (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 57% ended up on the winning side ($31M won, $23M lost).
Outside spending
$54M
On the winning side
57%
$31M
On the losing side
$23M
Supporting vs attacking
80% / 20%
$43M for, $10M against
Google says Americans for Prosperity Action also spent $3.9M on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (7% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Americans for Prosperity Action reported $57M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- Koch IndustriesCompany$8.0M (14%)
- Freedom Partners Action Fund Inc.Another PAC$6.5M (11%)
- Ronald CameronIndividual$4.5M (8%)
- Patrick Ryan Sr.Individual$1.8M (3%)
- Wayne LauferIndividual$1.6M (3%)
- Clarence WernerIndividual$1.5M (3%)
- Richard Baxter GilliamIndividual$1.5M (3%)
- Richard HaworthIndividual$1.4M (2%)
- Mary Alice BerganIndividual$1.4M (2%)
- Ethelyn HaworthIndividual$1.3M (2%)
Where the money went
Biggest targets, with whether each one paid off.
✓ Backed the winner or attacked the loser ✗ Backed the loser or attacked the winner Result not matched
| Candidate | Race | Spending | Amount | Paid off? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David A. Perdue | Georgia Senate | Supporting | $15M | ✗ No |
| Thom Tilllis | North Carolina Senate | Supporting | $9.9M | ✓ Yes |
| John Cornyn | Texas Senate | Supporting | $3.7M | ✓ Yes |
| Jon Ossoff | Georgia Senate | Attacking | $3.6M | ✗ No |
| Roger Marshall | Kansas Senate | Supporting | $3.2M | ✓ Yes |
| Steve Daines | Montana Senate | Supporting | $3.2M | ✓ Yes |
| Cal Cunningham | North Carolina Senate | Attacking | $2.9M | ✓ Yes |
| Barbara Bollier | Kansas Senate | Attacking | $1.3M | ✓ Yes |
| Cory Gardner | Colorado Senate | Supporting | $873K | ✗ No |
| John James | Michigan Senate | Supporting | $835K | ✗ No |
| Nick J. Freitas | Virginia 7th District | Supporting | $554K | ✗ No |
| Steve Bullock | Montana Senate | Attacking | $429K | ✓ Yes |
Questions people ask
- How much did Americans for Prosperity Action spend in 2020, and did it win?
- Americans for Prosperity Action (Koch network) spent $54M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Republicans (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 57% ended up on the winning side ($31M won, $23M lost).
- Who funds Americans for Prosperity Action?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were Koch Industries ($8.0M), Freedom Partners Action Fund Inc. ($6.5M), Ronald Cameron ($4.5M), Patrick Ryan Sr. ($1.8M), Wayne Laufer ($1.6M), out of $57M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Americans for Prosperity Action spend the most on in 2020?
- for David A. Perdue (Georgia Senate, $15M, lost); for Thom Tilllis (North Carolina Senate, $9.9M, won); for John Cornyn (Texas Senate, $3.7M, won).