Exclusive: “Without Dan Conston’s leadership of CLF, Republicans would not be in the majority and I would not be in Congress”: GOP praises outgoing super PAC leader

Republicans in and out of Congress told the Washington Reporter that CLF's outgoing leader is one of the best in the business

Although for the past three cycles the odds have been stacked against the House Republicans, Dan Conston, the outgoing president of the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), has helped the GOP navigate an internal coup, historically bad midterm elections, and an unprecedented amount of Democratic fundraising.

Conston has raised $871 million between CLF and its aligned organization, the American Action Fund (AAF), in the past six years. In the final full quarter of the 2024 elections, Conston raised a record $81.4 million. Chris Winkelman, the current executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), will replace Conston, who will still serve as a senior advisor — which comes as welcome news to Republicans, who showered Conston with praise in remarks to the Washington Reporter.

“Dan Conston is one of the smartest political strategists in the country with immense political skill and a keen understanding of the House map, who uniquely built trust among Republican donors over three successive cycles to build the most successful political operation in the country,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R., N.Y.) said. “Simply put, without Dan Conston’s leadership of CLF, Republicans would not be in the majority and I would not be in Congress.” In 2022, Lawler scored one of the upsets of the cycle, ousting the then-chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D., N.Y.).

Even Republican lawmakers who never needed his aid told the Reporter that Conston’s legacy speaks for itself.

“Dan Conston's brilliant leadership at the Congressional Leadership Fund has transformed how we win tough races,” Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.), whose campaign CLF helped in 2018, but not during Conston’s tenure, said. “His razor-sharp strategic instincts and unparalleled work ethic have been absolutely vital to securing and protecting our House majority. Race after race, cycle after cycle, Dan has shown an extraordinary ability to understand what moves voters and deliver wins in the most competitive districts. Our conference has been tremendously fortunate to have his steady hand at the helm of CLF, and his impact on Republican success will be felt for years to come.”

Other Republicans have similarly praised the political operative. “I think he has the best political strategist mind in the GOP Congressional world,” Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.) said. He’s the Maven.” Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa) added that “Dan Conston was tremendously valuable in gaining the majority in 2022 and keeping it in 2024. Good speaker, knowledge of districts, political strategy and fundraiser.”

Rep. David Valadao (R., Calif.) told the Reporter, “I want to thank Dan for his commitment to winning tough races, like mine, while leading CLF. That strategic vision led us to the majority.”

Conston’s candidate recruitment helped Republicans win competitive races in districts that are now firmly off the map for Democrats. House Republicans like Claudia Tenney (R., N.Y.), Ashley Hinson (R., Iowa) and Rep. Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.) benefitted from the millions of dollars Conston allocated to their races in 2020, and all three have faced only token opposition since they ousted Democratic incumbents.

“My 2020 race was one of the closest and most expensive in the entire country, and CLF helped ensure I flipped it, despite no shortage of dirty tricks from Democrats,” Tenney said. “CLF’s support extended into the months after Election Day to ensure that we defeated Marc Elias and Nancy Pelosi’s shameless efforts to steal an election from the people of New York. Dan’s work over the past 6 years is one of the biggest reasons that we are still in the House majority, even when everyone bet against us at seemingly every opportunity.”

“Dan Conston had an incredible tenure at CLF and is without a doubt responsible for our House Majority,” Hinson said. “His strategy and vision ensured our candidates were victorious in must-win races for three cycles. I know he will contribute to our party for years to come and help us win.”

“Dan was instrumental in my first election, helping me in one of the most contentious and competitive elections in Oklahoma history,” Bice told the Reporter. “His commitment to broadening the GOP’s tent has forever reshaped our party for the better. Under his leadership, Republicans flipped the House last cycle, then maintained it this cycle — leading to an unexpected mandate to deliver for the American people.”

CLF spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2024 elections as well to flip Democratic-held seats across the country — including that of Rep. Matt Cartwright (D., Pa.), who had long been a white whale for Republicans.

Rob Bresnahan, who defeated Cartwright, told the Reporter that “defeating a six-term incumbent requires a flawless team effort, and Dan Conston was a critical part of our team’s success.” Other Republicans who flipped Democrat-held seats in 2024 echoed Bresnahan’s sentiment.

Gabe Evans, who ousted Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D., Colo.) told the Reporter that "as a former Black Hawk pilot who fought wildfires in the National Guard, I often compared Dan Conston’s incredible work to the heavy air tanker support needed to beat back the flames of the Democrat ads. A massive thank you to Dan from me and many other candidates over the years whose victories and a Republican House majority were made possible because of his help.”

During his candidate recruitment process, Conston often sought out veterans. Tom Barrett, who narrowly lost his 2022 House race and successfully flipped an open House seat, told the Reporter that “Dan Conston played an incredible role in House Republicans taking and holding our majority. I'm not sure we would have kept the House without his leadership. The investment CLF made in Michigan’s 7th District was critical in defeating my opponent and flipping the nation's most competitive House race this cycle. I'm grateful for Dan's support and belief in me and wish him the very best. He will continue to do great things wherever he goes.”

Conston’s CLF also played a critical role in initially electing many incumbent Republicans who have subsequently narrowly lost primaries or general elections. Former Rep. Peter Meijer (R., Mich.) told the Reporter that “Dan’s talent and focus was deeply appreciated among swing district GOP members — the CLF under Conston gave Republicans a chance to compete and win on a playing field where Dems always had a cash advantage.”

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R., N.Y.), who narrowly lost in 2024, added that “our country, and House Republicans, owe Dan Conston a debt of gratitude for his diligent and exceptional leadership at CLF. We’re sad to see him go, but excited to see what he does next.”

Conston’s current and former colleagues told the Reporter that he is one of the best in the business. “Dan built Congressional Leadership Fund into a powerhouse of American politics and reshaped how House campaigns will be fought and won for years to come,” Calvin Moore said. For two cycles, Moore worked with Conston as the communications director at CLF. “Working with Dan pushes you to think smarter and sharper, and simply being part of his team makes you better at what you do.”

“In the toughest races and environments Dan Conston wins,” Will Reinert, CLF’s press secretary during the 2020 cycle, added. “He smashed fundraising records because donors knew no one would make better use of their cash than him. Being in the same room as Dan makes you a smarter operative, and if it doesn’t, you were not paying attention to what he had to say.”

The GOP’s top operatives agree.

“Dan is a great friend and one of the top political operatives in the country,” Jeff Miller, one of the most powerful lobbyists in D.C., said. “His incredible success while leading CLF is a testament to his incredible leadership — and our party and country are better off for it. Dan, quite simply, is the man.”

Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told to the Reporter that “Dan was an incredible partner for us over the past six years, working hand-in-hand with the RJC to secure historic gains with Jewish voters in swing districts in House races across America at times when others were all too willing to write our efforts off. Dan’s encyclopedic knowledge of House districts across America has been invaluable to me and to many others as we assess where to spend our resources.”