Conservative Group Previously at Odds With Trump Now Fully Backing His Campaign

The Club for Growth has pledged substantial financial backing to President Donald Trump’s push for congressional redistricting in Republican-controlled states, marking a significant alliance in the GOP’s strategy to defend its narrow House majority in the 2026 midterm elections.

“We’re all in on helping Republicans do redistricting,” David McIntosh, president of the influential conservative group, said in an exclusive interview. The organization has committed over seven figures to support efforts that would “give Republicans a better shot at winning those extra districts.”

This collaboration represents a notable reconciliation between Trump and the Club for Growth following their bitter feud during the 2024 Republican presidential primary. The two sides have now aligned on key political priorities as the party looks ahead to maintaining its tenuous control of the House.

Trump’s redistricting initiative aims to prevent a repeat of his first term, when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterms. Several Republican-controlled states have already taken action, with Texas passing a rare mid-decade congressional redistricting plan, though it faces legal challenges from federal judges. Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio have also redrawn their maps as part of this strategic push.

Indiana has emerged as the latest battleground in this high-stakes redistricting effort. McIntosh, who represented Indiana in Congress for three terms, argued that “Democrats for years have gerrymandered and Republicans have not, and now it’s time so we can have Republicans in Congress for states like my home state of Indiana, step up to the plate.”

Trump has intensified pressure on reluctant Republican state lawmakers, threatening to endorse primary challengers against those who resist redistricting efforts. McIntosh expressed strong support for this approach, stating, “Club for Growth will be there to back up his endorsements.”

The organization’s political arm, Club for Growth Action super PAC, has launched advertising campaigns across multiple right-leaning states. “We’re running ads. We have a new ad today that talks about the need for redistricting,” McIntosh explained, adding that they’ve implemented a program that connects constituents directly with their state senators to voice support for redistricting.

Beyond redistricting, the Club for Growth is investing heavily in upcoming electoral contests. The group is spending seven figures in next week’s special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, where Trump-endorsed Republican Matt Van Epps is running to succeed former Rep. Mark Green, who resigned in June.

Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, McIntosh revealed that the Club has “already started raising a $40 million fund to keep the House majority, and we’re about 25 million into it.” The organization plans to play an influential role in Republican primaries, seeking “the strongest conservative candidate, somebody who wants to continue the economic progress, less regulation, lower taxes, balance the budget.”

Democrats, meanwhile, are energized after recent electoral victories in 2025. CJ Warnke, communications director for the Democrat-aligned House Majority PAC, predicted that “as Trump’s poll numbers on the economy continue to plummet and voters see him prioritizing the elite over lowering prices, his broken promises will sink House Republicans.”

McIntosh acknowledged the 2025 election results as “a warning sign, a wake-up call,” emphasizing the need for Republicans to both mobilize voters and effectively communicate how their policies address economic concerns. “The party has to explain how our agenda makes life more affordable,” he said.

The current alliance represents a significant turnaround from the fractured relationship between Trump and the Club for Growth during the 2024 primary season. Trump had repeatedly criticized McIntosh and the organization, referring to them as “The Club for NO Growth” and “an assemblage of political misfits, globalists, and losers.” However, the two sides reconciled in early 2024, with Trump declaring they were “back in love.”

“We’re right there with the President, especially in these races,” McIntosh affirmed. “Club for Growth is very aligned with President Trump, and we’re especially in these contested races, we’re going to help him win.”