Multiple Republicans Find Their Funding in Jeopardy

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell has warned several Republicans not to back Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley's campaign finance bill while suggesting they heavily benefited from donations that would be targeted by the legislation.

Hawley is attempting to pass a bill which would limit political spending from publicly traded corporations, including expenditures, political ads and other electioneering communications from super PACs supporting election campaigns.

In a statement, Hawley said he is putting forward the bill while claiming corporate America has "funneled billions" of dollars to support politicians who "favor their woke, social agendas" instead of American voters' interests. "This legislation would hold mega-corporations' feet to the fire and stop their dollars from buying our elections," Hawley added.

At a private meeting on Tuesday, McConnell told Republican senators that many of them had won their seats thanks to funding from the Senate Leadership Fund, a McConnell-affiliated super PAC, which are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of campaign cash, CNN reported.

McConnell added that Republican Senators could face "incoming" from those on the center-right if they supported Hawley's bill, it said.

McConnell singled out a number of lawmakers who benefited from donations from his group in recent elections, including Hawley himself, according to CNN, which obtained a list of those involved. Newsweek has been unable to verify the list.

McConnell's office has been contacted for comment via email.

After Hawley was elected in 2018, winning 51 percent of the vote to Democratic opponent Claire McCaskill's 46 percent, the Senate Leadership Fund issued a statement saying the fund had "invested $21.2 million to help level the playing field despite Hawley being outspent by his wealthy opponent by nearly four to one. Our investment here paid off..."

Below, Newsweek has compiled the list of GOP senators, apart from Hawley, who McConnell believes would be damaging their potential re-election hopes if they support Hawley's bill to restrict publicly-traded companies from making political donations.

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Graham, who is facing a potential GOP primary challenge from Rep. Ralph Norman for his U.S. Senate seat in 2026, is one of those who reportedly was on McConnell's list.

Graham, who has yet to confirm if he is seeking re-election as he insists he is focusing on the 2024 elections, was first elected to the South Carolina Senate in 2002.

In November 2020, he beat Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison by more than 10 points (54.4 to 44.2) to win a fourth term.

J.D. Vance in Ohio

Vance was one of the biggest success stories for the GOP in the disappointing 2022 midterm elections, with the Hillbilly Elegy author beating Democratic Tim Ryan 53 percent to 46.9 percent.

Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

Johnson first assumed office in 2011 and his current term ends in 2029. He defeated Democrat Mandela Barnes by one point (50.4 to 49.4) in the 2022 midterms.

Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Tillis is another GOP Senator included on McConnell's list who had a small margin of victory during his latest election. He beat Democrat Cal Cunningham by 48.7 to 46.9 percent in November 2020.

Ted Budd of North Carolina

Budd is another Trump-endorsed political newcomer who managed to win their open Senate race in 2022. Budd received 50.5 percent of the votes, with Democratic challenger Cheri Beasley coming in second with 47.3 percent.

Eric Schmitt of Missouri

The former attorney general of Missouri won election to the U.S. Senate in his first try, receiving 55.4 percent of the vote in 2022, with Democratic Trudy Busch Valentine getting 42.2.

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Murkowski, one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump at his second impeachment trial for allegedly inciting the Capitol attack, fought off a challenge from Trump-backed candidate Kelly Tshibaka in the 2022 election.

Steve Daines of Montana

Daines easily defeated Democrat Steve Bullock in the November 2020 race, 55 to 45 percent.

Susan Collins of Maine

Collins, who first assumed office in 1997, won her election in 2020 with 51 percent of the vote.

Roger Marshall of Kansas

Marshall cruised to re-election in 2020 with 53.2 percent of the vote, with Democrat Barbara Bollier getting 41.8 percent and Libertarian Party candidate Jason Buckley receiving five percent of the votes.

Joni Ernst of Iowa

The former Iowa state representative was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 with 51.7 percent, more than six points more than Democrat Theresa Greenfield.

Daniel S. Sullivan of Alaska

The former Republican attorney general of Alaska's current Senate term ends in 2027. He won his 2020 race by nearly 13 points, beating nonpartisan candidate Al Gross into second place (53.9 to 41.2).

Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

Blackburn has confirmed she is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent Tennessee, with the Republican primary scheduled on August 1, 2024.

She became the first woman to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate after winning her 2018 race by more than 10 points.

Kevin Cramer of North Dakota

Cramer is also running for re-election and will take part in the North Dakota primary in June 2024. In 2018, he defeated the Democratic incumbent, Heidi Heitkamp, by 55.1 to 44.3 percent.

Katie Britt of Alabama

Britt triumphed in her 2022 Senate race, receiving 66.6 percent of the vote.