Citizens for Free Enterprise spent $5.9M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Republicans (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 73% ended up on the winning side ($4.3M won, $1.6M lost).
Outside spending
$5.9M
On the winning side
73%
$4.3M
On the losing side
$1.6M
Supporting vs attacking
15% / 85%
$880K for, $5.0M against
Google says Citizens for Free Enterprise also spent $1.1M on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (19% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Citizens for Free Enterprise reported $7.9M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- J Joe RickettsIndividual$7.8M (100%)
- Scott Howell and CompanyCompany / nonprofit$14K (0%)
- Majority Strategies LLCCompany / nonprofit$7K (0%)
- Strategic Media ServicesCompany / nonprofit$117 (0%)
Where the money went
Biggest targets, with whether each one paid off.
✓ Backed the winner or attacked the loser ✗ Backed the loser or attacked the winner Result not matched
| Candidate | Race | Spending | Amount | Paid off? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TJ Cox | California 21st District | Attacking | $1.4M | ✓ Yes |
| Abigail A. Spanberger | Virginia 7th District | Attacking | $1.3M | ✗ No |
| Xochitl Torres Small | New Mexico 2nd District | Attacking | $1.3M | ✓ Yes |
| Kendra S. Horn | Oklahoma 5th District | Attacking | $550K | ✓ Yes |
| Joe Cunningham | South Carolina 1st District | Attacking | $433K | ✓ Yes |
| Stephanie Bice | Oklahoma 5th District | Supporting | $358K | ✓ Yes |
| Nick J. Freitas | Virginia 7th District | Supporting | $214K | ✗ No |
| Yvette Herrell | New Mexico 2nd District | Supporting | $188K | ✓ Yes |
| Nancy Mace | South Carolina 1st District | Supporting | $87K | ✓ Yes |
| Donald Trump | President | Supporting | $23K | ✗ No |
| Nick J. Freitas | Virginia 7th District | Attacking | $15K | ✓ Yes |
| David G. Valadao | California 21st District | Supporting | $9K | ✓ Yes |
Questions people ask
- How much did Citizens for Free Enterprise spend in 2020, and did it win?
- Citizens for Free Enterprise spent $5.9M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Republicans (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 73% ended up on the winning side ($4.3M won, $1.6M lost).
- Who funds Citizens for Free Enterprise?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were J Joe Ricketts ($7.8M), Scott Howell and Company ($14K), Majority Strategies LLC ($7K), Strategic Media Services ($117), out of $7.9M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Citizens for Free Enterprise spend the most on in 2020?
- against TJ Cox (California 21st District, $1.4M, won); against Abigail A. Spanberger (Virginia 7th District, $1.3M, lost); against Xochitl Torres Small (New Mexico 2nd District, $1.3M, won).