Trump-aligned Super PACs Flood 2026 Midterms with Record Ad Spending

Republican-aligned super PACs and dark-money groups have poured unprecedented sums into television, streaming and digital ads for the 2026 midterm contests. In September alone, more than $94 million in ad reservations were booked to support Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, dwarfing the roughly $20 million spent for Democratic challenger James Talarico. Across the nine most competitive Senate races, Republican candidates and allied groups have pledged $557 million versus $343 million from Democrats, according to AdImpact data. An additional $150 million of ad reservations was logged in the last two weeks by MAGA Inc. and two new Trump-aligned entities, No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC.

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The spending surge follows a period in which Democratic candidates, such as Talarico, out-raised their Republican opponents on a cash-on-hand basis—Talarico held twelve times more cash than Paxton after the June finance deadline. However, unlimited-donation super PACs can outspend campaigns directly, a dynamic the GOP is exploiting to offset headwinds from President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings and an unpopular war with Iran.

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Democratic operative Jesse Ferguson called the Republican cash advantage “predictable” and warned that money cannot change voter fundamentals. Paxton, speaking at the Texas Republican convention, framed the spending as essential backup against a well-funded Democratic opponent.

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• September ad reservations for Paxton: >$94 million

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• September ad reservations for Talarico: ?$20 million

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• GOP vs. Dem pledged ad spend in nine Senate races: $557 million vs. $343 million

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• Recent two-week ad reservations from Trump-aligned groups: >$150 million

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• Trump-aligned super PAC cash pool: ?$1 billion (Trump’s estimate)

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• Trump’s planned midterm allocation: $400–$500 million (Trump’s estimate)

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• Ohio Senate race ad lock-in for remainder of election: >$116 million

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• “Look across the battleground Senate states, look at the House districts, the cavalry has come,” — Scott Jennings, a longtime Republican strategist

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• “Some of these ads are going to be ugly and it's going to be a pretty negative campaign, but that's the nature of a midterm when you've got an environment like the one that the Republicans are facing," said Jennings, referencing headwinds the GOP faces this election.” — Scott Jennings, a longtime Republican strategist

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• “I think I have like close to $1 billion in the super PAC," Trump told reporters recently in the Oval Office.” — President Trump, including president

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• “And I'm allocating probably $400 or $500 million [to the midterms].” — President Trump, including president

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• “Democrats are the party out of power and Donald Trump is more transactional than any president in history," said Ferguson.” — Jesse Ferguson

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• “Money can't change the weather, but it can be an umbrella for them going into this election," Ferguson said.” — Jesse Ferguson

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