Dan Conston Set to Depart from Leading House GOP Super PAC
For the past six years, he has been at the helm of the Congressional Leadership Fund.
TroibNews 
Veteran GOP operative Dan Conston is stepping down from his position as the leader of House Republicans’ primary super PAC.
Over his six-year period at the Congressional Leadership Fund, Conston played a key role in helping Republicans secure a slim majority in 2022 and maintain it in 2024. He remained at the helm of the organization even after Mike Johnson assumed the speakership.
With Conston's exit, Johnson will need to appoint a new leader for the group in 2026, as Republicans aim to safeguard a narrow majority during Donald Trump’s potential second term. Conston will continue as a senior adviser for the super PAC, as well as its affiliated nonprofit, the American Action Network.
Throughout his career, Conston has been instrumental in candidate recruitment and has established strong ties within the donor community, which became increasingly crucial after McCarthy's departure as speaker due to Johnson's relative inexperience in fundraising.
“It’s been an honor of a lifetime to lead CLF and help House Republicans win and retain the majority,” Conston remarked. “We’ve accomplished everything we set out to do. It’s time to let others grow it to the next level.”
Both current and former House speakers expressed their appreciation for Conston. McCarthy described him as “one of the sharpest political minds in the business.” Johnson noted that maintaining “our majority would not have been possible” without Conston’s contributions. Adding to the accolades, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who directed the House GOP campaign effort in 2022, stated, “Dan Conston knows how to do the only thing that matters in politics: WIN.”
The Congressional Leadership Fund is the largest spender in House races for Republicans, gaining significance as GOP candidates faced challenges in matching Democrats’ substantial fundraising efforts. The organization frequently conveyed the Republican message in districts where candidates faced financial constraints for advertising.
Under Conston's leadership, CLF and its affiliated nonprofit raised a total of $871 million.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Over his six-year period at the Congressional Leadership Fund, Conston played a key role in helping Republicans secure a slim majority in 2022 and maintain it in 2024. He remained at the helm of the organization even after Mike Johnson assumed the speakership.
With Conston's exit, Johnson will need to appoint a new leader for the group in 2026, as Republicans aim to safeguard a narrow majority during Donald Trump’s potential second term. Conston will continue as a senior adviser for the super PAC, as well as its affiliated nonprofit, the American Action Network.
Throughout his career, Conston has been instrumental in candidate recruitment and has established strong ties within the donor community, which became increasingly crucial after McCarthy's departure as speaker due to Johnson's relative inexperience in fundraising.
“It’s been an honor of a lifetime to lead CLF and help House Republicans win and retain the majority,” Conston remarked. “We’ve accomplished everything we set out to do. It’s time to let others grow it to the next level.”
Both current and former House speakers expressed their appreciation for Conston. McCarthy described him as “one of the sharpest political minds in the business.” Johnson noted that maintaining “our majority would not have been possible” without Conston’s contributions. Adding to the accolades, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who directed the House GOP campaign effort in 2022, stated, “Dan Conston knows how to do the only thing that matters in politics: WIN.”
The Congressional Leadership Fund is the largest spender in House races for Republicans, gaining significance as GOP candidates faced challenges in matching Democrats’ substantial fundraising efforts. The organization frequently conveyed the Republican message in districts where candidates faced financial constraints for advertising.
Under Conston's leadership, CLF and its affiliated nonprofit raised a total of $871 million.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
