CLF & AAN Announce Chris Winkelman as President for 2026 Cycle

Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), the super PAC endorsed by Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican Leadership, and its sister 501(c)(4) American Action Network (AAN), today announced that Chris Winkelman, the Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), will serve as President of CLF and AAN for the 2026 election cycle. Chris Winkelman replaces outgoing President Dan Conston, who led CLF and AAN for six years when the organizations raised $871 million.

“Chris Winkelman helped lead the fight to defend Republicans’ House majority at the NRCC and will be a strong force leading the Congressional Leadership Fund to build on those efforts in the next election cycle,” said Speaker Mike Johnson. “Keeping our House majority would not have been possible without CLF, which kept Republican candidates on offense in races from coast to coast. As the Speaker’s endorsed Super PAC, I look forward to continuing to work with CLF and Chris to keep and grow our majority in 2026.”

“Chris Winkelman will be a strong partner and incredible advocate for Republican candidates and Members,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “It’s been an honor working with him to defend our Majority at the NRCC and I look forward to taking the fight to the next level with Chris at CLF next cycle.”

“Chris Winkelman’s leadership was instrumental in House Republicans’ defending our majority this cycle,” said Majority Whip Tom Emmer. “He has my full support in his new role as President of CLF, and I’m confident he will help us deliver for America once again.”

Over the past two years at the NRCC I have relied on Chris Winkelman’s steady leadership and counsel to navigate unprecedented challenges. Through it all, Chris conceived and executed our strategy to hold the House majority. There is no one I trust more to lead the outside effort to hold the House in the coming election,” said NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson. “With Chris at the helm of CLF, the House majority is in good hands.”

“I’ve seen Chris Winkelman’s sharp political acumen and legal mind on display for cycles now. He knows what it takes to solve problems and win. Chris will be a fantastic leader who will take what’s been built and grow CLF to even greater levels,” said outgoing CLF President Dan Conston.

“It is an honor to have the trust of Speaker Johnson and our leadership team to lead the outside effort to hold the House Republican majority. Dan Conston and his team were indispensable partners this cycle and I am grateful for all his efforts,” said incoming CLF President Chris Winkelman. “I am looking forward to working with the Speaker, NRCC Chairman Hudson, our leadership, and our Conference to elect a House Republican majority that will continue to deliver results for the American people.”

Background:

Chris Winkelman served as the Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2024 election cycle. Chris has a unique perspective at the intersection of law and politics developed over the course of his decade plus of advising campaigns, elected officials, political consultants, and government affairs professionals. During his time as a political lawyer and Partner at the Holtzman Vogel law firm in Washington, DC, he built a practice focused on advising public officials and candidates as well as helping political and advocacy professional execute campaigns at the highest level. He also spent three election cycles as General Counsel to the NRCC and prior to entering private practice, served as a federal law clerk at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.