Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, gave more than $100,000 in late 2009 to GOP candidates and committees from his personal leadership PAC — including to some candidates in contested primary elections.

Cornyn’s committee, Alamo PAC, gave $10,000 apiece to Kelly Ayotte, a former New Hampshire attorney general who is vying to succeed retiring Sen. Judd Gregg (R), and Trey Grayson, the Kentucky Secretary of State who is seeking the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R). Ayotte and Grayson face determined opposition in the 2010 primary.

Alamo PAC gave $5,000 apiece to the Senate campaigns of Robert F. Bennett (Utah), who is being challenged for renomination in his quest for a fourth term, and Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (Ill), who faces several more conservative challengers in a Feb. 2 primary.