Conservative billionaire hatches plan to keep GOP in power through 2030

Republican billionaire Sheldon Adelson is a forming a new “super” political action committee designed for one purpose: Keeping Republicans in control of the House of Representatives through 2030.

According to reports by CNN and the Washington Examiner, Adelson has started working to convince other wealthy and influential Republicans to help fund a super PAC whose sole mission would be to help Republicans in state legislative and gubernatorial races. The purpose of funding these races would be to ensure Republicans maintain their firm grip on statehouses across the country, which could give the party a substantial advantage over the next 13 years.

In the wake of the 2016 election, 33 governors are Republicans, and Republicans have control over both chambers in state Legislatures in 32 states. Democrats only control six: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Oregon and Rhode Island.

This is incredibly important, because every 10 years, many states redraw the boundaries of their House districts, giving the party in control the power to create districts that benefit it for a decade into the future. If Republicans maintain their control over statehouses over the next two elections, it’s likely they’ll be able to move the House, which already heavily favors Republicans, even further in their direction, making it incredibly difficult for Democrats to gain control of the House again until district lines are redrawn in 2030.

According to CNN’s report, Adelson has said he would himself be willing to commit significant financial resources to the proposed super PAC. Adelson has given hundreds of millions of dollars to help Republicans and conservative groups during his lifetime.

Some have criticized the White House for not doing more to reach out to donors, according to the Examiner’s report.

"I don't think he spends his time reaching out to donors," said Spencer Zwick, a fundraiser for former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). "The way they got elected was not the way Romney built his campaign."

One of the purposes of Adelson’s super PAC is said to be to help fill that fundraising-leadership void.

Editor's Note: This article was updated to show that six state legislatures are controlled by Democrats, not five, as had previously been stated. The sixth state, Connecticut, has a split state Senate, but Democrats control the tie-breaking vote.