Citizens United tops $100K given to conservatives for quarter

{mosads}The group, which is limited to smaller donations by campaign finance laws, gave the maximum of $15,000 to Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), who is running in a crowded field for the Senate. It also gave $10,000 to Bryan Smith, who is running against Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), a close ally of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

The group also gave $5,000 to Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), a libertarian-leaning Republican who has drawn a primary opponent, and $5,000 to Igor Birman, a conservative Republican running against former Rep. Doug Ose (R-Calif.) for the right to take on Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.).

Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), who may face a tough general election campaign, received $10,000 as well.

Citizens United doesn’t make the huge donations other conservative groups do — it’s up to $315,000 overall this cycle after giving $925,000 last cycle. But the group remains influential on the right, and the candidates it backs early on often receive big donations from other outside groups later on.