Trump-McConnell split divides GOP donors

The war between the ancients President TrumpFederal Prosecutors Investigated Proud Boys and Roger Stone Ties in 2019 Case: CNN Overnight Defense: One-third of Service Members Refuse Coronavirus Vaccine | Biden to Take Executive Action in Response to Solar Winds Hack | US, Japan reach cost-sharing deal Trump ‘won’t say yet’ if he shows up in 2024 MORE and leader of the minority in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump ‘won’t say yet’ if he shows up in 2024 On the trail: Trump threatens Tea Party redux Trump to appear on Tory networks following Limbaugh’s death MORE (R-Ky.) Is likely to turn into a battle for the money as Republican donors will be forced to choose between candidates backed by Trump and candidates from the GOP establishment.

The fundraising breakdown could prove detrimental to Republicans, who seek to reverse the House and Senate in the 2022 midterm election.

Trump lambasted McConnell this week after the GOP Senate leader said Trump was responsible for the January 6 riot. Trump has vowed to support key opponents who are more aligned with his base, launching a battle over the future of the Republican Party.

Many Republican donors are avoiding taking sides publicly at this time, but strategists see signs of things to come in 2022 and 2024.

“I think as long as the Republicans are out there talking about our own primaries let alone [President] Biden and democratic politics, we lose, ”said a longtime GOP donor. “The dem money will flow; I think the worry will be that some of the GOP’s money will sit on the sidelines, even big business money, until the Republicans get their act together.

Two Republican senators who voted to condemn Trump, the senator. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyPhilly GOP Commissioner on Censorship: “ I would suggest they censor Republican elected officials who lie ” Toomey censored by several Pennsylvania County GOP committees on impeachment vote Toomey on Trump vote: ‘His betrayal of the Constitution’ demanded MORE conviction (Pa.) And Richard burrRichard Mauze BurrCollins Says GOP Should Move Away From ‘One Person’ Trump Dumps On McConnell, Promises Major MAGA Challengers States Parties Seek To Punish Anti-Trump Republicans MORE (NC), do not stand for re-election in 2022, leaving two rotating state seats open. Another vote to condemn came from Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann Murkowski How Democrats Can Make Sure Trump Never Runs Again Trump Dumps McConnell, Promises Major MAGA Challengers States Parties Seek To Punish Anti-Trump Republicans MORE (R-Alaska), who is due for re-election next year.

Some donors oppose the idea that base Trump candidates have a chance in swing states.

“I think McConnell wins with legitimate GOP donors. And he wins in the long run. Former President Trump lost Georgia and the Senate, period. And the White House, legitimately. The base of the GOP is ready and must move forward; the base of the ex-president – which is not a true Republican base – maybe not so much, but they lost the podium, ”said a former director of PAC.

His. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham Riot probe likely to focus on McCarthy-Trump Graham call: Lara Trump is biggest winner in impeachment trial Congressional Democrats say Trump’s acquittal was a foregone conclusion MORE (RS.C.) sees it differently. Saturday he called Lara trumpLara TrumpGraham: Lara Trump is the biggest winner in impeachment trial Madison Cawthorn supports Mark Walker as NC Senate primary ‘Purple America’ sets political leadership in 2022 MORE, Trump’s daughter-in-law, “the biggest winner of this entire impeachment trial.” She is expected to run for the free Burr seat and Graham said Burr’s vote to convict made her “almost the definite candidate.”

But GOP strategist Karl RoveKarl Christian Rove Governor Giuliani’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders will not be part of Trump’s defense in Senate trial; officials prepare for Trump’s second impeachment trial MORE McConnell backed up in a Wall Street Journal editorial Thursday, writing that “by suggesting that Senate Republicans oust Mr. McConnell, Mr. Trump is preparing for defeat.”

“I think McConnell thinks there’s no way to get 51 with Trump,” a longtime GOP donor said of the Senate overthrow. “You name a real Trumpy person in Pennsylvania, you’re going to be crushed like Rick Santorum did.”

McConnell’s strategy is to ignore Trump after the former president hit him in a statement this week, a plan that could help Republicans in 2022.

But Trump World has plenty of time to rally around the former president’s next move.

Unlike McConnell, House GOP leadership does not distance itself from the former president. House Minority Leader Kevin mccarthyKevin McCarthyOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Five things to know about Texas’ strained power grid | Biden honeymoon with green groups facing tests | Electric vehicles set to help Biden in fight against climate GOP lawmakers mourn death of Rush Limbaugh Rick Perry: ‘Texans would be without electricity any longer’ to ‘prevent the federal government from’ enter ” MORE (R-Calif.) Visited him in Mar-a-Lago in late January and Minority Whip Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph Scalise GOP lawmakers mourn the death of Rush Limbaugh How President Biden can strike a home run LIVE COVER: House debates removing Greene from committees MORE (R-La.) Went to Mar-a-Lago this week.

“McConnell’s strategy is that we can’t win with Trump,” said a longtime GOP donor. “I think McConnell would say I lost the Senate hugging Trump in the first place, Republicans should have won Georgia, but Trump’s strategy was to hug Trump and be as Trumpy as possible. And the Republicans ended up losing the suburbs.

There have been negative reactions to Trump’s strategy. Since the deadly riot on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, a wave of companies have said they will not donate to any of the 147 Republican lawmakers who voted against certification of presidential election results , which poses another threat to Republicans in 2022.

But donations from PAC companies are small compared to the amount given by mega donors and the amount of money Trump can raise from his base in grassroots donations.

Mega donors will be key to helping Republicans in 2022, provided they can overcome the growing divide within the party.

Mega donors like Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone Group, and Pat Ryan, founder of Aon, both backed Republicans in the second round in Georgia this year. Spokespersons in their place declined to say whether they would give money to pro-Trump candidates or candidates backed by McConnell in 2022.

Other GOP mega donors who donated in the second round in Georgia, Warren Stephens of Stephens Inc., and Kenneth Langone and Bernie Marcus, co-founders of Home Depot, also declined to comment on the 2022 plans.

GOP donors who backed Trump, as well as former Republican presidential candidates, Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt Romney On The Trail: Trump Threats Redux Romney Tea Party Plan To Help Families And Promote Work NYT podcast host says it’s ‘ironic’ Rubio is against the allowance childcare PLUS (Utah) and the late Sen. John mccainJohn Sidney McCain The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden on COVID-19: Next Year Americans Will Be “Better Off” What’s the Navy’s priority – petty rules or preparing to fight? Lincoln Project Hires Law Firm to Investigate Allegations Against Co-Founder READ MORE, and former President George W. Bush, said they were largely focused on winning back Congress in 2022.

A Republican lobbyist and former George W. Bush and Romney consolidator has said GOP donors will look to Republicans regardless of the candidates, especially in the run-up to the 2024 presidential race.

“You might even prefer Trump, but in the end, let’s say Nikki HaleyNikki Haley: The Republican Party Is Derailed? GOP consultant calls on Haley for leading Republican support for the party in 2024 for Trump to play a role in the party up 18 points from early January MORE or [Sen.] Cotton TomTom Bryant CottonOvernight Defense: One-third of service members refuse coronavirus vaccine | Biden to Take Executive Action in Response to Solar Winds Hack | US, Japan strike cost-share deal Cotton, Romney introduce bill that links minimum wage hike with stricter citizenship checks Biden, like most new presidents, will have his chance in economics MORE (R-Ark.) Is the candidate, are you really going to sit on your checkbook because your favorite candidate hasn’t reached the finish line? There are very few Republicans who predicted Trump would be the candidate, but when the pressure kicked in, he had enough of their money. They didn’t all stay on the sidelines, ”the source said.

David Tamasi, a longtime Republican donor and co-founder of Chartwell Strategy Group, also suggested that Republican candidates would gain GOP support regardless of their position along the Trump-McConnell divide.

“We are very early in the cycle and we have a long way to go. Let’s see who the candidates are, see who wins some of these primaries, see where some of these elections are. I’m pretty confident that at the end of the day whoever the Republican nominees are in those respective states, they’ll have more than they need in terms of money to win, ”he said.

Ken Kies, chief executive of the Federal Policy Group and former George W. Bush consolidator, has predicted that Republican donors will support candidates “they think they can win.”

“I don’t think much of it will depend on what jersey you wear,” he said.