Elections

Boehner pledges big bucks to GOP congressional campaigns

Luke Russert
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Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks following the House Republican Conference meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.
Bill Clark | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

At a closed door meeting on Tuesday of the House GOP Conference, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced he would donate $1.5 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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That brings the total amount of donations from Boehner to the NRCC—the campaign arm of House Republicans)—to $17 million this cycle. When asked by NBC News if this move to help his fellow members was intended to shore up support for his future as speaker, Boehner responded, "I told my colleagues two weeks ago I'm all in, and when I'm all in, I'm all in."

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After Eric Cantor's stunning defeat two weeks ago, it seems all but inevitable Boehner will stay on as speaker next Congress. Aides say Boehner believes it is critical for the Conference to have strong leadership beyond the midterms and ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Earlier this year there was speculation Boehner's tenure might be coming to a close after his purchase of a Florida condo was made public and some high-level leadership aides left; Boehner's actions since then however have suggested he intends to keep his current job.

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—By Luke Russert for NBC News