Top House GOP super PAC taps new president
Chris Winkelman, the top staffer at the House Republican campaign arm, will be the new president of the Congressional Leadership Fund.
Winkelman will replace Dan Conston, who has led the super PAC for six years and announced Monday he will be stepping down. CLF, the largest House GOP super PAC, is endorsed by Speaker Mike Johnson.
As its leader, Winkelman will court major party donors and direct hundreds of millions of dollars in ad spending to help Republicans grow their narrow majority. He spent three cycles as general counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee before taking over as its executive director in 2023.
His tenure at the NRCC has given him strong relationships with members and the chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.). And he is known to be close with Johnson, who assumed the speakership in late 2023.
"Chris Winkelman helped lead the fight to defend Republicans' House majority at the NRCC and will be a strong force leading the Congressional Leadership Fund to build on those efforts in the next election cycle,” Johnson said in a statement.
Winkelman is an expert on campaign and finance law, including the intersection of party committees, super PACs, nonprofits and candidates’ campaigns.
He was heavily involved in courting donors at the NRCC, but leading the top super PAC will require a different kind of fundraising. CLF and its sister nonprofit, American Action Network, can accept much larger checks from donors. Conston had close ties to the massive GOP donor network, which he developed over his term.
“Chris will be a fantastic leader who will take what’s been built and grow CLF to even greater levels,” Conston said, praising his “sharp political acumen and legal mind.”
Winkelman is known for keeping a lower media profile and working quietly behind the scenes. Republicans maintained their House majority this year despite having a tough map, forced to defend more than a dozen incumbents in districts that Joe Biden won.
This story first appeared in the Morning Score Newsletter. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
-
House GOP releases 2025 legislative calendar
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the schedule for the 119th Congress on Tuesday, unveiling adjustments under President-elect Trump. Next year, representatives will be in session ...The Hill - 16h -
The House GOP's math problem: From the Politics Desk
The final race of the 2024 election has been called, meaning Republicans will control 220 House seats to Democrats’ 215 next year, a slim majority.NBC News - 15h -
Trump changes White House counsel pick, tapping David Warrington
President-elect Trump on Wednesday announced a change in his choice to serve as White House counsel in his upcoming administration, tapping his top campaign lawyer, David Warrington, for the job. ...The Hill - 19h -
House Democrats fighting for younger members in top posts
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland is challenging Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Is this race the beginning of a new generation of Democratic ...CBS News - 1d -
A top GOP senator predicts Trump’s picks will get FBI background checks
Politico - 2d -
Senate Democrats prepare to tap leadership for new minority era
Politico - 2d -
Lobbying World: YouTube taps new federal affairs manager
Andrew Meyer has joined YouTube as manager of federal affairs. He was most recently legislative director for Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.). Will Lemke is joining Monument Advocacy as vice president of ...The Hill - 1d -
Apple Podcasts – Top New Shows
Apple Podcasts charts for week ending Dec. 2ABC News - 1d -
Watch live: House GOP leadership holds presser after Hunter Biden pardon
House Republican leaders will brief the press Wednesday morning, as the GOP prepares to transition to full leadership of Congress and the White House. Their presser follows President Biden's recent ...The Hill - 1d -
California Democrat flips final House seat, dealing Republicans narrow majority
With Trump picks leaving vacancies, Republicans could have a 217-215 majority -- the narrowest GOP majority in history -- when the 119th Congress convenes on Jan. 3.ABC News - 18h -
On Trump tax cuts, energy and immigration plans, clash emerges between House, Senate GOP leaders
Jason Smith, Chair of House Ways and Means, tells CNBC that his voting majority will be extremely slim for passing President-elect Trump's tax cut promises.CNBC - 9h -
House GOP braces for tiniest vote margin possible: 'We have nothing to spare'
House Republicans will have zero room for error in the 119th Congress — literally. Rep. John Duarte (R) conceded to Democrat Adam Gray in California’s 13th Congressional District Tuesday night — ...The Hill - 3h -
Trump taps Peter Navarro as top trade adviser months after prison release
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Peter Navarro will return to the White House as his senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. Navarro, who served in Trump's first ...CBS News - 14h -
Congressional GOP offers new proposal on year-end health package
Republicans on Capitol Hill have sent a preliminary offer to Democrats for numerous health care policies to be tacked onto the continuing resolution that lawmakers are moving to complete before the ...The Hill - 16h -
Jamie Raskin challenges Jerry Nadler for top Democratic spot on House Judiciary panel
Rep. Jamie Raskin, who served as the lead Democratic prosecutor in Donald Trump's second impeachment trial, will challenge Rep. Jerry Nadler for House Judiciary chairman.NBC News - 2d -
Biden to participate in final White House Christmas tree lighting of presidency
First lady Jill Biden unveiled the White House decorations earlier in the week, with the theme of "A Season of Peace and Light."CBS News - 2h -
Trump will take ‘nonstop’ action in first 100 days in office, top adviser says – live
Jason Miller says that Trump will take aggressive action on immigration and oil and gas drilling early into his second term. Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen in Paris on Saturday with incoming US ...The Guardian - 1d -
The GOP's new task: Turning Trump voters into full-fledged Republicans: From the Politics Desk
Even with their success, this election revealed a challenge for Republicans going forward: The “Trump coalition” and the “GOP coalition” are not quite the same.NBC News - 1d -
Grijalva drops bid for top panel spot as House Dems confront generational reckoning
Politico - 3d -
Hegseth 'just doesn't have the credibility to run the Pentagon': Top House Armed Services Democrat
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, joins Meet the Press NOW to share his concerns with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense ...NBC News - 16h -
CFP rankings release: See how the new top 25 affected the bracket
A first look at the new bracket based on the College Football Playoff committee's penultimate set of rankings.ESPN - 1d -
Bitcoin tops $100,000 as monster 2024 rally reaches new heights
Bitcoin had been widely expected to reach $100,000 since the U.S. presidential election but investors sent it to this mark much sooner than expected.CNBC - 3h -
Commanders hire Campbell's CEO Mark Clouse as team's new president
Clouse is the CEO of The Campbell's CompanyCBS Sports - 1d -
Commanders hire Campbell's CEO Mark Clouse as their new team president
The Washington Commanders have hired Mark Clouse as their new team presidentABC News - 1d -
Fury in South Korea After President Imposes Martial Law
President Yoon Suk Yeol’s top aides offered to resign hours after he rescinded his extraordinary order. Protesters are calling for his resignation as lawmakers prepare to meet.The New York Times - 1d -
California lawmakers unveil new abortion protections ahead of Trump return to White House
California lawmakers unveiled two new pieces of legislation to protect abortion access in the state ahead of President-elect Trump’s return to the White House in January. The first of the two ...The Hill - 1d -
'The Brutalist' tops New York Film Critics Circle Awards. Carol Kane, Adrien Brody win acting prizes
Brady Corbet’s 3 1/2-hour postwar epic “The Brutalist” won best film from the New York Film Critics Circle on Tuesday, while its lead, Adrien Brody, also won best actorABC News - 1d -
New York’s D’Esposito makes play for top DEA role after failed reelection bid
Politico - 21h -
Trump taps Army, NASA chiefs
Politico - 22h -
2024 NFL Week 14 QB Power Rankings: Bills' Josh Allen is new No. 1; Steelers' Russell Wilson approaches top 10
Assessing every team's starting signal-caller entering Week 14CBS Sports - 1d -
Super Micro pops nearly 30% after special committee finds no 'evidence of misconduct'
Shares of Super Micro Computer surged more than 30% after a special committee ruled it found "no evidence of misconduct" at the embattled AI server maker.CNBC - 2d -
5 Daily Habits to Eliminate Digital Clutter and Make You Super Focused
Great tips to keep you from wasting time and help you be more productive.Inc. - 2d -
Why streaking Eagles compare favorably with 1992 Super Bowl champion Cowboys
The Eagles are Super Bowl contenders thanks to Saquon Barkley and the most improved defense in the leagueCBS Sports - 1d -
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne recreates Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl announcement
The rapper's 2025 tour, which he announced Tuesday, will visit stadiums, including the Patriots' home.ESPN - 1d -
Trump taps in-laws for key diplomatic posts
President-elect Donald Trump is giving key diplomatic posts to the fathers-in-law of his two daughters. He has tapped Charles Kushner to serve as the ambassador to France and Massad Boulos as ...CBS News - 2d -
Intel considers an outside CEO, taps headhunters, sources say
Intel is considering tapping an outside hire as CEO, a nearly unprecedented occurrence, as the company reels from the ouster of Pat Gelsinger.CNBC - 1d -
Hegseth faces growing GOP scrutiny as allegations mount
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's embattled pick for Defense secretary, faced growing scrutiny from Republican senators Tuesday after a new set of revelations over the weekend involving ...The Hill - 1d
More from Politico
-
‘Point of pride’: Dems revel in California House wins despite nationwide losses
Politico - 1h -
What we’re watching: Trump eager for details on Hegseth's Hill meetings
Politico - 1h -
Trump chooses fintech CEO to lead Social Security Administration
Politico - 12h -
Kelly Loeffler picked to serve as small business administrator
Politico - 15h -
Trump picks former Rep. Billy Long for IRS commissioner
Politico - 15h