Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, a leading contender to be Donald J. Trump’s running mate, is set to host a gathering in Washington next month. The event will bring together Republican donors who have not yet committed to supporting the party’s presidential ticket.
The gathering, organized under the banner of Great Opportunity Policy, a tax-exempt group backing Mr. Scott’s political agenda, will also serve as a fund-raising opportunity. This event comes at a crucial time as Mr. Trump is gearing up to start the selection process for his vice-presidential candidate.
A strong show of financial support for Mr. Scott’s group could enhance his chances of being chosen by Mr. Trump as his running mate. Mr. Trump has been discussing with his advisers the potential running mates who could help boost the campaign’s fundraising efforts. For Mr. Scott, hosting this event could demonstrate his appeal to centrist donors and showcase his ability to expand the financial resources available to the Trump campaign.
According to an invitation obtained by The New York Times, the event will feature speeches from prominent donors and other well-known personalities, including:
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Marc Andreessen, a software engineer turned investor who has contributed over $11 million to non-Trump causes this election cycle
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Kenneth Griffin, the founder of Citadel hedge fund, who has donated nearly $60 million to political causes this cycle, supporting many of Mr. Trump’s Republican primary challengers
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Marc Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, who backed Mr. Scott’s presidential bid
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Bill Ackman, the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, who is considering supporting either Mr. Trump or independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Tim Dunn, a founder of CrownQuest, who has already made a $5 million contribution to Make America Great Again Inc., Mr. Trump’s super PAC
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Kellyanne Conway, former senior counselor in the Trump White House
Mr. Trump is increasingly concerned about financial challenges facing his campaign. His team expects to be outspent by President Biden’s fundraising operation, and legal battles have resulted in substantial legal fees, draining funds from his Save America PAC.
In response, the former president has ramped up his own fundraising efforts, a departure from his anti-donor stance during his first campaign in 2016. At a recent private fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump joked about donors paying for photos with him and highlighted Mr. Scott as a strong supporter.
Mr. Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, has been actively involved in fundraising for Mr. Trump. He helped organize a significant fundraiser ahead of a crucial primary contest in South Carolina this year.
Later this month, Mr. Scott is expected to attend a fundraiser in Manhattan hosted by a group of billionaires, financial executives, and longtime Republican donors. The event will focus on addressing antisemitism on college campuses and financial challenges.
The Washington policy gathering hosted by Mr. Scott is set to feature discussions on expanding opportunity and access to the American dream. The event aims to raise funds with contributions of up to $250,000 from attendees.
In a statement, Mr. Scott emphasized the importance of addressing the economic struggles faced by many Americans and the need to create more opportunities for prosperity.
Maggie Haberman contributed to this report.
