Koch network pledges 'full support' of 'unmatched grassroots army' to stop Trump in GOP primary

On Tuesday, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Action — one of the biggest and most well-funded conservative political networks in the US — announced it would be mobilizing in support of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

The Washington Post reported that AFP Action, which is chiefly funded by influential far-right billionaire Charles Koch, is throwing its weight behind Haley's campaign, pledging its massive organizational infrastructure to help her defeat former President Donald Trump.

"AFP Action is proud to throw our full support behind Nikki Haley, who offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era, to win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November," AFP Action senior advisor Emily Seidel wrote in a memo. "Haley will have the full weight and scope of AFP Action’s unmatched grassroots army and resources to help her earn the support of Americans to become the next President of the United States of America."

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In addition to putting the Trump campaign on notice, the endorsement of the Koch network is also a significant blow to the campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who until recently was thought of as the best alternative to Trump in the GOP primary. However, DeSantis' poll numbers in early state primaries have been sliding, while Haley's have been steadily climbing.

In Iowa, RealClearPolitics polling data shows the former South Carolina governor has doubled her vote share since September, while DeSantis has remained relatively flat. And in New Hampshire, Haley has emerged as the clear frontrunner of the non-Trump pack, with latest numbers showing her at 18.7% support. Trump, for his part, remains the far-and-away favorite, holding a roughly 30-point advantage over his closest opponents even as he faces 91 felony charges in three jurisdictions.

AFP Action's support may help Haley climb in the polls even further given its deep pockets and organizational muscle. According to OpenSecrets' campaign finance data, the group has raised nearly $80 million for the 2024 cycle, and has so far spent very little. the next Republican debate will be held on December 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump is not expected to attend.

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