WASHINGTON _ House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., raised nearly $90 million in political contributions for House Republicans over the 2016 cycle, far more than past speakers, his political director said in a memo Thursday.
The memo from Kevin Seifert, executive director of Team Ryan, the speaker's political operation, outlined Ryan's efforts throughout the 2016 to bankroll and campaign for House Republicans.
"Speaker Ryan poured himself fully into supporting his colleagues," Seifert wrote, describing the congressman's "exhaustive efforts to bolster his colleagues and secure the foundation for advancing conservative solutions."
The nearly $90 million figure the memo touts includes $52 million in direct contributes to the Team Ryan joint fundraising account, more than $20 million the speaker raised for members and candidates' campaigns, as well as money raised through National Republican Congressional Committee digital and direct mail programs bearing Ryan's name.
Ryan transferred $40.6 million of the funds he raised over one year as speaker to the NRCC to distribute across down-ballot races. That is significantly more than the $21.9 million former Speaker John A. Boehner transferred to the NRCC in the 2012 presidential cycle and more than double the $16.4 million Boehner transferred during the 2014 midterm cycle, both of which he raised over full two-year terms.
In addition to his financial support for House Republicans, Ryan provided $1 million to the Republican Party of Wisconsin to help fund the party's ground game in the state.
Wisconsin produced a few election night surprises, re-electing Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who had lagged in the polls behind former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, and giving its 10 electoral votes to GOP candidate Donald Trump, who was elected president.
Ryan has been in high demand as a fundraiser and speaker since he was named the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, though the interest in using him as a campaign asset has only increased since he became speaker.
He stumped for candidates across the country, visiting 101 cities in 31 states. In the last five weeks of the campaign alone, Ryan appeared in 66 cities in 25 states, often making multiple stops per day.
"On the road, Ryan did business tours, fundraisers, community roundtables, site visits at key stops, joint interviews and get out the vote rallies," Seifert wrote. "Throughout the year, Paul Ryan was the kind of valuable surrogate who could fit what members and candidates needed most in their district."
Ryan campaigned with all 23 members of the NRCC's Patriot Program for vulnerable incumbents at least once. He also visited districts where Republicans were looking to pick up seats, including Florida's 18th, Nebraska's 2nd, California's 7th and 24th and Minnesota's 8th.
