Koch Network Pulls Funding For Nikki Haley’s Campaign After Repeated Losses

by Clark FranzmanMarch 1, 2024, 5:28 pmDaily Digest, Elections, Homepage Slider, News, News Feed >

Americans for Prosperity Action, a conservative super PAC funded by the billionaire Charles Koch, has announced they will end financial support for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s campaign for the Republican nomination for president.

The announcement comes after Haley’s crushing primary defeat to former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina.

AFP Action endorsed Haley in November 2023, saying they believed she “offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era.”

Haley herself has made this a central theme of her campaign, but it seems conservative voters aren’t quite ready to move on from Trump, handing defeats to Haley in four major state primaries in a row.

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When AFP announced the severance of their financial ties to the Haley campaign CEO Emily Seidel made clear the PAC still supports Haley but didn’t see a feasible path to the White House.

“Nikki Haley has shown us again and again that we made the right decision in supporting her candidacy and she continues to have our strong endorsement,” Seidel said. “But given the challenges in the primary states ahead we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory.”

Seidel said AFP will shift its focus to House and Senate races where they believe their resources can be better utilized to make an impact.

Time seems to be running out on Haley, but she continues to insist she’ll keep fighting. She released a statement, thanking the AFP Action for their support, and touted the grassroots movement she believes will push her through Super Tuesday.

“AFP is a great organization and ally in the fight for freedom and conservative government,” said Olivia Perez Cubas, a spokesperson for Haley. “We thank them for their tremendous help in this race. Our fight continues, and with more than $1 million coming in from grassroots conservatives in just the last 24 hours, we have plenty of fuel to keep going, We have a country to save.”