House Speaker Paul Ryan is set to pitch his agenda to the Koch brothers’ powerful donor network gathered here this weekend. He’s among the Republican politicians who scored invites to one of the nation’s most sought-after political retreats.
Ryan will be joined here at the summit hosted by the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce alongside up-and-coming Republicans like Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah, Koch spokesman James Davis said Saturday. Other speakers will include Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado.
The Koch network is sitting out of the presidential campaign entirely, a blow to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump claimed Saturday that he declined a meeting request from Charles and David Koch this weekend, though several Trump allies within the network have encouraged the billionaire donors to meet with the billionaire candidate.
“Our perspective is the same: We’re focused on the Senate,” Mark Holden, a top Koch network official, told reporters. “We have no intention to go after Donald Trump.”