GOP leadership candidate Thune transfers $4 million to NRSC

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) told colleagues at a special political strategy meeting Tuesday that he will transfer $4 million from his campaign account to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to help chip away at the big fundraising advantage Senate Democrats have enjoyed so far this cycle.

Thune’s transfer from his personal campaign fund is the largest ever by a Senate Republican, according to a source familiar with the transaction. The current record was also set by Thune, with a $2 million transfer in 2016.

The gift will boost Thune’s reputation among colleagues heading into the special leadership election Senate Republicans will hold in November or possibly later to replace 82-year-old Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Thune said Tuesday he was thinking more about helping secure a Senate Republican majority in 2025 than how it might affect his leadership race against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).

“Everybody’s trying to win a majority. That’s what we’re all focused on. I think the team realizes that the next [GOP] leader should be the [Senate] majority leader, and so everybody is doing what they can to help us get the majority,” Thune told The Hill.

Republican senators applauded Thune’s huge gift at Tuesday’s meeting.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he’s “delighted” that Thune is stepping up in such a big way.

A Republican senator who requested anonymity said, “it’s a lot of money!”

But Thune’s rival for the top GOP leadership job, Cornyn, has also raised a lot of money for Senate GOP candidates, employing the Cornyn Victory Committee to tap major donors in Texas for Senate races around the country.

“I think we’re on track to raise about $25 million in hard money. There are other efforts underway to help provide with resources but, again, I think everybody needs to be on the field,” he said. “If people can give money by transferring from their accounts, that’s great. If they raise money, like hard dollars and soft dollars like the Senate Leadership Fund does, we need all of the above.”

NRSC Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is warning colleagues that Senate Democrats are pulling ahead in the fundraising battle, noting that Vice President Harris has transferred $10 million to help the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“If there’s one thing that Kamala Harris can do well, and maybe the only thing, that is raise money. So we got a gap we need to close,” Daines told reporters Tuesday.