As billionaire Charles Koch spoke earlier this year to donors who back the conservative political empire he built with his brother, someone alerted him that an audience member had just turned 90. “That’s what I’m gunning for,” the 82-year-old shot back.
Since then, Koch has gotten a pointed reminder that time is short. In June, he told more than 120,000 employees at the conglomerate he runs that his 78-year-old brother, David, is stepping down from leadership posts in the family business and political operation because of declining health.
This weekend, as hundreds of Koch donors convene for the first time since that news, the network’s future is certain to be on their minds as they mill about at a luxury Rocky Mountain resort. But liberals and other Koch critics looking forward to a time when the brothers no longer exert major influence on U.S. politics may be waiting a long time.
“Everything they have done has been so that this whole thing will endure,” said Daniel Schulman, author of a 2014 book about the Koch dynasty. “Their legacy is having created this massive political organization that in many ways rivals the Republican Party itself.”
Network Visionary
Charles Koch has been the network’s visionary and top leader in recent years, so his brother’s retirement isn’t expected to have a major impact on day-to-day operations. But David Koch was chairman of a foundation that supports Americans for Prosperity, the network’s primary political vehicle.
“Having that ability to move on to the next generation is always a tough challenge, and the bigger the organization, the bigger the challenge,” said Frayda Levin, a New Jersey donor who serves on the Americans for Prosperity board.
The network, with more than 700 donors who give at least $100,000 per year, has convened gatherings like this weekend’s twice annually since 2003. Its January meeting in California attracted at least two U.S. senators, one U.S. House member, two governors, a state attorney general and a state supreme court justice.
Republican Officials
The full list of officials expected this weekend hasn’t been disclosed, but a person with knowledge of the invitees who wasn’t authorized to release the schedule said they include Governor Rick Scott of Florida, who’s running for U.S. Senate, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, and Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who’s running for governor. All are Republicans.
The donors are convening as the network finds itself clashing with President Donald Trump, who’s wielding and threats of tariffs run counter to the free-trade views of the Kochs.
Keeping the network happy is especially important for Republicans in an election year. Plans call for it to spend about $400 million on state and federal policy and politics during the two-year cycle that culminates with November’s balloting, a 60 percent increase over 2015-16.