Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the fiscally conservative network founded by the Koch Brothers, billionaires with significant influence, has officially endorsed Nikki Haley for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
According to Fox, the endorsement, announced in a memo on Tuesday, comes as part of the group’s commitment to spending substantial funds to propel the Republican Party beyond the influence of former President Trump. AFP Action expressed its support for Haley, stating it is “proud to leverage its grassroots operation to endorse Nikki Haley for the next President of the United States.” The group plans to kick off its efforts with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign this week in early primary states and several Super Tuesday states, urging Americans to rally behind Haley’s positive vision for a departure from current political challenges and progress for the nation.
Nikki Haley, a former two-term governor of South Carolina and later the ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, initiated her 2024 GOP presidential campaign in February. Recent favorable performances in the first three GOP presidential primary debates have boosted her standing in the polls. Notably, she has surpassed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire and her home state, with competitive showings in Iowa.
However, Haley and DeSantis trail behind Trump, who maintains a significant lead as he pursues his third consecutive White House bid. The endorsement from AFP Action is expected to provide valuable support to Haley, whose campaign lacks the grassroots outreach and organizational strength of DeSantis, aided by the Never Back Down super PAC.
AFP Action’s endorsement is likely to contribute to Haley’s campaign through direct-mail and field operations, as well as a substantial ad campaign in early voting states. In the 2022 midterms, the group demonstrated its influence by engaging in door-to-door activities, making calls, and sending out millions of mail pieces on behalf of its endorsed candidates.
Emily Seidel, senior adviser to AFP Action, emphasized the organization’s grassroots nature and affirmed that Nikki Haley is the candidate capable of turning the page on political dysfunction and securing a victory. Seidel pledged full support to help Haley become the next President of the United States.
In response to the endorsement, Nikki Haley expressed gratitude, noting the significant stakes in the election and the choice between freedom and socialism, individual liberty and big government, and fiscal responsibility and escalating debt. She acknowledged AFP Action as a crucial ally in the mission to save the country.
The DeSantis campaign, reacting to the setback, argued that the AFP Action endorsement of Haley would strengthen Trump’s position in the GOP presidential nomination race. DeSantis’ communications director, Andrew Romeo, claimed that the endorsement aligns with the pro-Trump establishment and emphasized DeSantis’ history of defeating the establishment.
The Trump-aligned super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., also criticized the endorsement, asserting that no amount of money can break the bond between President Trump and voters.
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee took a critical stance against Haley and AFP, highlighting their alignment with the Koch network and accusing them of supporting policies that favor the ultra-wealthy while undermining social security, Medicare, and healthcare access for millions of Americans.