Americans for Prosperity launches campaign targeting six Democrats to oppose ending filibuster

Advocacy group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has launched a six-figure campaign targeting several Democratic senators to oppose ending the filibuster. 

The campaign will mobilize grassroots activists against ending the filibuster, which AFP argues would lead to “partisanship on steroids”, create a revolving door of the most extreme policies, stifle debate and have a destructive effect on American institutions, according to a spokesperson. 

AFP expects to spend roughly $500,000 on this initiative, deemed “Don’t Bust The Filibuster.” The advocacy group was co-founded by GOP mega-donor Charles Koch.

The first phase of the campaign involves focusing on six Democrats and launching digital and radio advertising along with the grassroots effort. The targeted Democratic lawmakers include Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Chris Coons (Del.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Joe Manchin (W.Va.). 

AFP hosted grassroots events in Montana on Tuesday, Arizona on Wednesday and Nevada on Thursday and Friday. Each event focused on urging the home state Democratic senator to oppose the end of the filibuster. 

The group also set up a webpage, DontBustTheFilibuster.com, that gives people information about contacting their senators to call for them to oppose ending the filibuster.

“Our nation is at a fork in the road. Senators have a choice between going down a dangerous path by eliminating the filibuster, or they can do the right thing by working together toward better public policy to solve our most critical issues,” the letter reads.

Progressives have pushed for the elimination of the legislative filibuster, which they see as a roadblock to any meaningful legislation because the Senate rule requires 60 votes to pass most bills. President Biden supports the filibuster but has indicated he would be open to seeing changes to the Senate rule.