Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton is backing 19 Republican national security hawks who are running for Congress, his political action committee told the Washington Free Beacon on Thursday.
Bolton SuperPAC has endorsed Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah) and Republican Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Scott Tipton (Co.), and Peter King (N.Y.). Bolton will also back Jack Bergman, a retired three-star U.S. Marine Corps Lt. General who is running for the House in Michigan.
"Recent bombings in New Jersey and New York prove the threat of terrorism is as real at home as it is in other parts of the world," Bolton said in a statement. "It is imperative that the 115th Congress is represented by Republican leaders who understand the dangerous times we live in and will vote for strong national defense policies that ensure America’s safety."
Lee, who is running for a second term in the Senate, has been critical of Obama’s refugee policies. He voted earlier this year for legislation that would enhance background checks for Syrian and Iraqi refugees slated to be resettled in the U.S.
Bolton said King’s experience as chair of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence has made him a "strong leader" against international terrorism.
"He understands the importance of proactively fighting ISIS and other terrorist cells across the globe," Bolton said.
Bolton’s PAC pledged a collective contribution of $100,000 to be distributed among the 19 campaigns. He previously announced his support for five veterans running for Congress in June and has endorsed 80 candidates during this election cycle, contributing over $540,000.
Bolton SuperPac issued a press release Thursday with a full list of the candidates and why Bolton is endorsing them.