Koch Funding to End for Haley After South Carolina Loss

AFP Action, the conservative branch of the influential Americans for Prosperity organization, funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers, has withdrawn financial support from Nikki Haley's presidential campaign.

In an email obtained by Fox News, AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel stated that the group did not believe external funding could significantly enhance Haley's chances of winning.

Koch-backed network drops funding for Nikki Haley campaign after South Carolina defeat https://t.co/8d27ZPOK74

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) February 26, 2024

Seidel emphasized that while AFP Action would maintain its endorsement of Haley, it would redirect resources toward competitive races in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Politico first reported this development on Sunday.

AFP Action endorsed Haley in November, providing her campaign with substantial grassroots support and organizational assistance.

In January, the well-funded fiscal conservative network launched an advertising campaign on Haley's behalf, comprising mailers, digital advertisements, and connected TV spots.

Initially pledging to allocate tens of millions of dollars to bolster the Republican Party and endorse Haley, AFP Action announced last month that it would allocate an initial $27 million towards its ongoing campaign efforts.

The decision to cease funding Haley's campaign coincided with former President Trump's victory in the South Carolina GOP primary, Haley's home state, on Saturday.

Despite this setback and calls to withdraw from the race, Haley expressed determination to persevere, insisting that her journey was far from over as she campaigned in Michigan ahead of its primary on Tuesday. Within 24 hours of her defeat on Saturday night, Haley's campaign reported raising $1 million from grassroots supporters alone, as per Fox News reports.

Responding to the loss of funding from AFP Action, Haley remained undaunted, expressing gratitude for their past support and affirming her commitment to conservative principles.

She reiterated her determination to represent the majority of Americans who oppose a Trump-Biden rematch. With Trump securing victories in all primaries or caucuses held thus far, his dominance in the early GOP contests has left little room for Haley, his former U.N. ambassador, to maneuver.

Despite mounting pressure to withdraw from the race and allow Trump to focus solely on challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in a potential 2024 rematch, Haley maintained her resolve to remain in contention.