A new organization aimed at replacing some of the Republican Party’s older, more moderate lawmakers in the House with a slate of young conservative populists launched this week, with one of the faces of a right-wing controversy at the helm. 

The group, American Ascent, is being run by Ryan Neuhaus, the former chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation who wrote the script for a now-infamous video in which Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended Tucker Carlson and called those criticizing Carlson for platforming neo-Nazi influencer Nick Fuentes a “venomous coalition.”

Critics saw that language as invoking antisemitic tropes.

The video prompted a crisis inside Heritage and resignations from a series of longtime staff. Neuhaus shared a post calling for anyone upset about the video to resign, and ultimately resigned himself amid the controversy.

Neuhaus has more recently dismissed concerns that “groypers,” followers of Fuentes, are prevalent among young GOP staff, and has been a vocal critic of the war in Iran, as well as the “neocon establishment” that he said had pressed for “forever wars” and sought to undermine peace efforts. He has also said that Mormon doctrine “doesn’t support Zionism.”

He has continued to defend Carlson since leaving Heritage, calling him an “important part of [Trump’s] coalition” and a “good man who loves his country.”

The group is being financed by Thomas Klingenstein, the GOP megadonor and chairman of the Trump-aligned Claremont Institute’s board of directors, who has committed $12 million to the operation. The 501(c)(4) will partner with Turning Point Action, the political arm of Turning Point USA; the Claremont Institute; and the Oversight Project, a right-wing watchdog group, according to Politico. 

Neuhaus went to work directly for Klingenstein after leaving Heritage.

In addition, American Ascent is expected to work with the American Leadership PAC, which is also funded by Klingenstein. The PAC is led by Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist and a longtime aide to Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), who was responsible for helping defeat GOP state lawmakers in Indiana who opposed President Donald Trump’s redistricting push. 

A source familiar with the matter told Jewish Insider that the PAC’s work with the group will focus on open seats in non-competitive, deep-red districts.

Neuhaus told Politico that it would be “up to them” if his candidate recruits would primary incumbent Republican lawmakers, “but I’ll prepare any young and able and competent American to run for higher office.”

He said that the operation was in the works prior to last Tuesday’s midterms, which saw historic Republican losses, and emphasized that the effort was not a “Vance political project.”

“For too long, the Republican Party has relied on rerunning candidates over and over again,” Neuhaus said. “The American people told us pretty clearly that they want to see younger, more energetic politicians leading in America, representing them. They want to feel closely connected to them, and American Ascent is going to accomplish that.”