Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential hopeful of Indian American descent, received a significant endorsement from the Americans for Prosperity Action, a network associated with billionaire Charles Koch. This support positions her as an alternative to former President Donald Trump and may reshape the Republican landscape just seven weeks before the Iowa caucuses. The Koch-backed group, known for its vast resources and conservative activist network, chose Haley over other contenders like North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis.
The Americans for Prosperity Action’s endorsement lends organizational muscle and financial support to Nikki Haley’s campaign. The group sees her as capable of leading a policy agenda to tackle significant challenges and ensure a positive future for the country. With extensive grassroots and data capabilities, the Koch-backed organization believes it is well-equipped to bolster Haley’s candidacy.
The announcement comes as a blow to Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor, who received support from Americans for Prosperity Action during his successful reelection campaign just a year ago. The group’s internal polling indicates Nikki Haley’s recent rise in key early states like New Hampshire and Iowa. They are set to initiate a multimillion-dollar ad campaign supporting Haley, emphasizing a new generation of leadership and a positive vision for the future.
This endorsement is part of Americans for Prosperity Action’s commitment to back a single contender in the Republican presidential primary, bypassing former President Trump. The group views Haley as representing a new chapter in leadership, distinct from politicians of the past, and pledges to do everything possible to support her bid for the presidency. The effort includes extensive grassroots reach, a multimillion-dollar ad campaign, and leveraging the group’s substantial data capabilities.
In response, the DeSantis campaign views the endorsement of Haley as an “in-kind” contribution to Trump’s campaign. They characterize Haley as a “moderate” with no viable pathway to victory and suggest that every dollar spent on her candidacy should be reported as support for Trump’s campaign.
