Full Breakdown
Trump-aligned Super PACs Flood 2026 Midterms with Record Spending
By Drooid · · How we work
Super PAC Spending Surge
President Donald Trump’s operation is channeling unprecedented sums into the 2026 congressional and Senate races. Super-PACs linked to Trump—MAGA Inc., No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC—have reserved more than $130 million in television, streaming and digital ads, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The bulk is earmarked for competitive Senate contests in Alaska, Texas, North Carolina and Ohio, and for House districts Trump carried by large margins in 2024. In Texas alone, Republican-aligned ad reservations for September exceed $94 million, dwarfing the roughly $20 million spent by Democratic nominee James Talarico.
Background & Context
Federal law bars sitting office-holders from directing spending for political committees that lack contribution limits. The Campaign Legal Center filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), alleging that Trump’s public statements—such as his claim in the Oval Office that he “controls” MAGA Inc.—violate that prohibition. Super PACs may raise and spend unlimited “soft money,” a loophole that has expanded in recent cycles. The FEC currently lacks a full slate of confirmed commissioners, limiting its ability to act on the complaint.
Data & Statistics
- MAGA Inc. held over $400 million at the end of July.
- No Going Back PAC has reserved $98.5 million in ads, the largest single allocation among Trump-aligned groups.
- Safety and Affordability PAC contributed $27 million; both PACs list the same treasurer as MAGA Inc. in their filings.
- In the final two weeks of the campaign, the three entities booked more than $150 million in ad reservations, according to NPR analysis.
- Republican ad reservations across the nine most competitive Senate races total $557 million, compared with $343 million by Democrats.
Official Statements & Responses
The Campaign Legal Center’s filing cites those remarks as evidence that a federal office-holder is directing spending for a non-candidate committee, which the law forbids. A MAGA Inc. spokesperson declined to comment on the complaint.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total amount of ad reservations. NPR reports “more than $150 million” in the last two weeks, AP cites “more than $130 million” overall, and Vox notes “$138 million” booked by Trump-aligned PACs. No source provides a definitive, final tally, and the FEC has not yet ruled on the legality of the alleged control.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Look across the battleground Senate states, look at the House districts, the cavalry has come,” — Scott Jennings
- “I think I have like close to $1 billion in the super PAC," Trump told reporters recently in the Oval Office.” — President Trump
- “Democrats are the party out of power and Donald Trump is more transactional than any president in history," said Ferguson.” — Jesse Ferguson
What’s Next
The FEC complaint remains pending, and the election is less than two months away. As ad rates rise in the final campaign stretch, the effectiveness of the super-PAC spending will depend on whether the purchased airtime can sway voters in tightly contested races. Both parties continue to monitor the flow of money as the midterm ballot approaches.
