Koch network could target almost 200 races in 2020, official says

Americans for Prosperity, the political network funded by conservative mega-donor Charles Koch, plans to target nearly 200 federal and state races this year, CNN reported Thursday.

“The people who thought that we may have been backing down from politics are going to be surprised, because the reality is we’ve been strengthening our capabilities to go bigger than ever before,” Emily Seidel, CEO of Americans for Prosperity, told the network.

According to CNN, Americans for Prosperity’s political action committee, AFP Action, will announce its endorsement of four House Republicans on Thursday: Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Ted Budd (N.C.), Steve Chabot (Ohio) and Scott Perry (Pa.).

It previously endorsed five GOP Senate incumbents seeking reelection this cycle: Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), Steve Daines (Mont.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), David Perdue (Ga.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.).

AFP Action supported 64 races in the 2018 midterms and 38 races in 2019, CNN noted.

The network has typically rallied behind issue-based campaigns. Last year, it appeared to seek bipartisanship by supporting a bill that would give legal status to undocumented farm workers and backing some Democrats for state elections.