(RepublicanInformer.com)- In the Senate GOP contest, former President Donald Trump’s endorsement has given J.D. Vance more than just credibility. It has also attracted billionaire backer Peter Thiel, who has contributed millions to the campaign.
A source told Politico Tuesday that Thiel, a longstanding Trump admirer, had contributed $3.5 million to Protect Ohio Values, a super PAC endorsing Vance.
Thiel, 54, was a co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook. According to the story, he had already invested $10 million in Protect Ohio Values.
Mike Gibbons and Josh Mandel, both primary contenders, are fighting for Trump’s America First voters’ support, and both had more money than Vance before Trump’s endorsement.
According to reports, Vance had only $1.6 million in his campaign war fund at the end of March, and the Ohio GOP Senate primary is on May 3.
After the original Thiel gift, Protect Ohio Values was said to have just $300,000 left in the tank, battling the Club for Growth PAC, which was endorsing Mandel and reminding MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters that Vance was formerly a vociferous public critic of Trump.
Protect Ohio Values has booked $1.3 million in commercials in Ohio this week thanks to the increased donations, according to AdImpact.
Thiel also contributed $10 million to a super PAC supporting Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters.
Thiel has been a regular contributor to the Vance and Masters campaigns, keeping up with the latest events in both races. He has taken them individually to meetings with Trump and has arranged fundraisers for them. Vance and Masters have benefited from his endorsement, which has helped them recruit a slew of Silicon Valley-based contributors who don’t usually support Republican politicians.
Theil hosted a fundraiser earlier this year for Wyoming Republican Harriet Hageman, who is attempting to unseat GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, a vocal Trump opponent.
