Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you.Check it out!

FreedomWorks for America

From Ballotpedia
FreedomWorks for America
FreedomWorks for America logo.PNG
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:Super PAC
Affiliation:Republican
Year founded:2011
Website:Official website


Super PACs
Influencer Project Badge.png
Read more aboutsuper PACs and thesuper PACs covered on Ballotpedia.

FreedomWorks for America (FWFA) was a conservativesuper PAC that promoted "free trade, small government and a robust merit-based immigration system," according toPolitico.[1] FWFA was affiliated withFreedomWorks, a501(c)(4)nonprofit organization, which closed on May 7, 2024. The group was headquartered inWashington, D.C.[2] According to termination papers filed with the FEC, the super PAC terminated on December 9, 2024.[3]

Mission

As of July 2017, the website for FreedomWorks for America listed the following mission statement:

“FreedomWorks for America (FWFA) is focused on spearheading bottom-up grassroots campaigns on behalf of candidates who will promote economic freedom.[4][5]”

Background

FreedomWorks for America (FWFA) was founded in 2011 as thesuper PAC affiliate ofFreedomWorks, a501(c)(4)nonprofit organization that aimed to support free enterprise policies and limited government.[6]

Thesuper PAC supported conservative candidates, including candidates facing incumbentRepublicans, who promoted freedom. Rather than using radio or television ads, FWFA focused on grassroots outreach through its network of volunteers.[4]

Work

2016 elections

FWFA spent $460,596 through independent expenditures during the 2016 election cycle. Of the total expenditures, $457,891 supportedRepublicans and $2,705 opposedRepublicans.[7]

The following table describes FWFA's top 2016 independent expenditures by candidate:

CandidatePartyStateOfficePositionExpenditures
Tim HuelskampRepublican PartyKan.U.S. HouseSupport$97,058
Mike LeeRepublican PartyUtahU.S. SenateSupport$92,843
Dave BratRepublican PartyVa.U.S. HouseSupport$60,584
Mark MeadowsRepublican PartyN.C.U.S. HouseSupport$56,302
Rod BlumRepublican PartyIowaU.S. HouseSupport$48,184
Thomas MassieRepublican PartyKy.U.S. HouseSupport$35,731
George HoldingRepublican PartyN.C.U.S. HouseSupport$26,919
Walter JonesRepublican PartyN.C.U.S. HouseSupport$16,133
Mike CraneRepublican PartyGa.U.S. HouseSupport$6,842
Ron DeSantisRepublican PartyFla.U.S. HouseSupport$6,118

2014 elections

FWFA spent $1,729,870 through independent expenditures during the 2014 election cycle. Of the total expenditures, $1,178,320 supportedRepublicans, $315,678 opposedRepublicans, $1,435 supportedDemocrats, and $223,685 opposedDemocrats.[7]

Katrina Pierson support

See also:Katrina Pierson

FWFA endorsed tea partyRepublicanKatrina Pierson over incumbentRepublicanPete Sessions in the 2014 race forTexas' 32nd Congressional District.[8]

"Katrina Pierson has led the fight to elect principled conservatives across the state of Texas for years. While incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions seems more concerned with keeping his seat at the leadership table, Katrina understands the importance of connecting to the grassroots at home and sticking to your guns in Washington," said then FWFA President Matt Kibbe in a statement. "She is the clear choice for voters who want a strong leader who will fight both the Republicans and Democrats in Washington who continue to spend money we don't have."[8]

Pierson lost in theRepublican primary on March 4, 2014.[9]

2012 elections

FWFA spent $19,636,548 through independent expenditures during the 2012 elections. Of the total expenditures, $42,870 supportedDemocrats, $7,079,203 opposedDemocrats, $11,096,487 supportedRepublicans, and $1,417,988 opposedRepublicans.[10]

FWFA endorsed nearly 600 candidates for theU.S. House of Representatives, theU.S. Senate, and the presidency during the the 2012 elections. The following table describes a sample of the group's 2012 independent expenditures by candidate:[10][11]

CandidatePartyStateOfficePositionExpenditures
Connie MackRepublican PartyFloridaU.S. SenateSupport$1,874,246
Richard MourdockRepublican PartyIndianaU.S. SenateSupport$1,665,105
Josh MandelRepublican PartyOhioU.S. SenateSupport1,534,975
Jeff FlakeRepublican PartyArizonaU.S. SenateSupport$1,087,627
Tom SmithRepublican PartyPennsylvaniaU.S. SenateSupport$722,048
Jeff LandryRepublican PartyLouisianaLouisiana's 3rd Congressional DistrictSupport$691,151
George AllenRepublican PartyVirginiaU.S. SenateSupport$522,683
Ted CruzRepublican PartyTexasU.S. SenateSupport$481,322
Joe WalshRepublican PartyIllinoisIllinois' 8th Congressional DistrictSupport$357,164
Ann Marie BuerkleRepublican PartyNew YorkNew York's 24th Congressional DistrictSupport$293,448
Orrin HatchRepublican PartyUtahU.S. SenateOppose$945,373
Bob CaseyDemocratic PartyPennsylvaniaU.S. SenateOppose$759,473
Joe DonnellyDemocratic PartyIndianaU.S. SenateOppose$755,545
Barack ObamaDemocratic Party--PresidentOppose$621,913
Richard LugarRepublican PartyIndianaU.S. SenateOppose$335,099
Dan MaffeiDemocratic PartyNew YorkNew York's 24th Congressional DistrictOppose$115,060
Jim MathesonDemocratic PartyUtahUtah's 4th Congressional DistrictOppose$110,273
Charles Boustany Jr.Republican PartyLouisianaLouisiana's 3rd Congressional DistrictOppose$103,769
Lois FrankelDemocratic PartyFloridaFlorida's 22nd Congressional DistrictOppose$80,625
Jon TesterDemocratic PartyMontanaU.S. SenateOppose$71,204

Finances

The following table identifies FWFA's annual federal receipts and disbursements according to reports filed with theFederal Election Commission:

Annual federal receipts and disbursements for FWFA, 2011-2016
YearTotal receiptsTotal disbursements
2016[12]$358,617$655,958
2015[13]$449,418$496,694
2014[14]$2,975,100$3,152,991
2013[15]$847,243$1,083,260
2012[16]$20,847,893$22,007,043
2011[17]$2,605,304$614,923

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑Politico, "FreedomWorks Is Closing — And Blaming Trump," May 8, 2024
  2. ↑Huffington Post, "Tea party leader Dick Armey gets first-class treatment," April 19, 2012
  3. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FILING FEC-1859509," accessed August 18, 2025
  4. ↑4.04.1FreedomWorks for America, "About," accessed August 18, 2025
  5. ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑Federal Election Commission, "Statement of organization," accessed August 18, 2025
  7. ↑7.07.1Open Secrets, "FreedomWorks for America-independent expenditures, communication costs and coordinated expenses, 2016," accessed July 5, 2017Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; name "Op2" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑8.08.1The Hill, "FreedomWorks endorses Pete Sessions' primary opponent in Texas," accessed September 12, 2013
  9. ↑Texas Tribune, "2014 election results," accessed July 26, 2016
  10. ↑10.010.1Open Secrets, "FreedomWorks for America Recipients, 2012," accessed July 15, 2013
  11. ↑FreedomWorks for America, "Candidates," accessed April 25, 2013
  12. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2016," January 31, 2017
  13. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2015," January 30, 2016
  14. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2014," January 30, 2015
  15. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2013," January 31, 2014
  16. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2012," May 21, 2013
  17. ↑Federal Election Commission, "FreedomWorks for America Year-End Report, 2011," April 20, 2012
v • e
Influencers
MainInfluencer Project Badge.png