| Founded | February 2013 |
|---|---|
| Type | Super PAC |
| Focus | "Defeating big-spending politicians[1] |
| Location | |
Area served | United States |
| Method | Congressional elections |
Key people | Jenny Beth Martin |
| Website | www |
Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund is an Americansuper political action committee formed by theTea Party Patriots in February 2013.
The PAC aims to defeat politicians it considers big spenders by contributing to their opponents, to fund ads that expose these politicians' support of "economy-destroying laws and regulations," and to organize volunteers to get out the vote.[2][3]Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of theTea Party Patriots, has said the PAC's goal is to "produce a good ground game to compete with the left," pointing to tea party victories in the 2010 midterms, the defeat of theDemocrats' effort to recallWisconsin governorScott Walker in 2012, and the election of a Republican conference to the previously all DemocraticWashington state senate.[3]
Martin said the group was considering the2014 U.S. Senate primaries and elections inIowa, whereDemocratTom Harkin announced his retirement,;[4]Georgia, whereRepublican SenatorSaxby Chambliss announced his retirement;[5] andSouth Carolina whereRepublican incumbentLindsey Graham was running for reelection.[6]
In the 2016 Republican presidential primary, the organization endorsedTed Cruz.[7]
In May 2018, the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund helped Will Riley, an 18 year old high school senior fromCarlsbad, New Mexico, to organize theStand for the Second rally. The rally was held in response to theMarch for our Lives rally, held after theStoneman Douglas High School shooting. Stand for the Second was in support of gun rights and gun ownership.[8]
Richard Uihlein, CEO of theUline business supplies company, has been a major donor, contributing a total of nearly $4.3 million in the five years through 2020.[9]
