Full Breakdown
Trump-Aligned Super PACs Deploy $140 Million Across Senate and House Races
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Spending Overview
Two newly formed Trump-aligned super PACs—No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC, both created on Sept. 1 and sharing treasurers, banks and addresses—have poured a combined $140 million into advertising for a mix of Senate and House contests. The money is being spent in traditional Republican strongholds such as Florida, Texas, Iowa and Alaska, as well as in toss-up districts and a handful of Democratic-leaning seats.
Data & Statistics
- Total ad buys: $140 million (Bloomberg Government analysis).
- Michigan Senate: $1.2 million from Safety and Affordability PAC; No Going Back PAC contributed $18.5 million.
- Ohio Senate: $14 million (No Going Back PAC).
- New Hampshire Senate: $10 million (No Going Back PAC).
- Maine’s 2nd District (open seat): $4.5 million (Safety and Affordability PAC).
- Florida’s 25th District (Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz): $6.8 million (No Going Back PAC).
- New York’s 17th District (Rep. Mike Lawler): $4 million (No Going Back PAC).
- Additional smaller purchases were made in Alabama, Iowa, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Texas and Montana.
Official Statements & Responses
He also noted that Republicans face a structural disadvantage this cycle, citing the president’s “poor approval ratings” and the unpopularity of the Iran war.
Democratic congressional-spending spokesperson Viet Shelton argued that the absence of Trump’s name on the ads “carries a negative impact down-ballot,” suggesting the strategy may backfire for the party’s own candidates.
Why It Matters
The dual-PAC effort illustrates a strategic response to a shifting congressional map: by allocating cash to both safe Republican districts and competitive races, the operation seeks to safeguard vulnerable incumbents while leveraging the president’s brand where it remains strong. The lack of explicit Trump branding in the ads signals caution, allowing candidates to distance themselves from the president if local popularity is low. At the same time, the sizable outlays aim to energize low-propensity voters in red districts, a tactic that could influence turnout in closely contested Senate contests.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The White House is looking for places to direct energy into right now because the map is constantly changing,” — Steven Hilding, GOP strategist
- “You do want the stronger Republican districts from a strategic standpoint,” — Luke Ball
- “The redistricting over the last few months has done that, but if you leave it at that, then you’ve left the game unplayed. You have to draw the districts, and then spend the money to put an incumbent in that seat.” — Luke Ball
- “Even Trump’s own Super PAC thinks his order to ‘pretend I’m on the ballot’ is a losing strategy,” — Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic congressional-spending committee