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Outside Spending Surges in Key Senate Races
Confirmed
In Short: Outside spending in federal races has surged, now topping $2.4 billion, according to an OpenSecrets analysis of Federal Election Commission data, with less than three weeks until the Nov. 3 general election.
In key Senate races, outside groups are spending over $330 million to oppose Democratic candidates, WarpBeat reported.
Federal Election Commission candidate reports and outside spending figures from OpenSecrets put the total spent at more than $29 million, including amounts spent in the four-person Democratic primary.
The most expensive House race is in New Jersey’s 7th District, where Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who is trailing in InsiderNJ’s only independent poll in the race.
Spending on this year’s New Jersey congressional races has topped $100 million, fueled by several hotly contested primaries, two special elections, a well-financed Senator, and the critical 7th District House race.
Trump, Musk, Kean Jr., and Republicans have tried at every turn to stop Bennett, spending nearly $17 million in support of Tom Kean Jr. in the general election, according to Jones.
The Ninth District, a Solid Republican seat that went 60-40 for Trump, is receiving $94,014 in spending from No Going Back PAC.
One of two Solid Republican seats receiving funds is in Ohio, where Rep. Bob Latta is in a district Trump took 61-38 in 2024, yet is benefiting from around $23,000 in America PAC spending.
If Republicans lose every district receiving some spending in Texas, it would result in Democrats picking up one seat in that state.
In North Carolina, ad spending from outside groups totaled more than $800,000, a figure that could be significantly higher because only some of the spending has been disclosed so far.
Supporters packed President Donald Trump’s rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, with thousands more outside and people lining the streets during his motorcade route.
Long queues formed outside polling stations in larger cities and smaller towns alike in Serbia, and at polling stations abroad, including in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, Munich, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
What this adds
The surge in outside spending highlights the intense competition in key Senate races.
The figures from OpenSecrets and WarpBeat indicate a significant increase in spending compared to previous election cycles.
The spending on House races from leading Republican committees and super PACs shows the GOP is already playing significant defense.
What's confirmed
- So how exactly does Liberman intend to form a stable, 61-seat government that does not rely on outside Arab support?
- Independent watchdog CRTA reported a "large number of irregularities" and an increasing number of "violent incidents" outside polling stations.
- People queue outside a polling station in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city Early reports suggest Serbian voters turned out in droves for its parliamentary election, as a student protest movement attempts to end the rule of the country's right-wing populist leader.
- Long queues formed outside polling stations in larger cities and smaller towns alike in Serbia, and at polling stations abroad - including Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, Munich, Los Angeles and Chicago.
- To the outside observer, the “pro-Netanyahu” and “anti-Netanyahu” labels imply that there are two different visions for the country and that the policies of the next government will depend on which one wins the elections.
What's still developing
- With still a month of campaign spending to report and the final two weeks of outside spending to be counted, the total cost of these elections could increase by millions more.
- Follow the money to state legislators in all 50 states.
- See who else industries and special interests have supported with political dollars, from attorneys general to public utility commissioners.
- Pick a state and learn about the big donors seeking to influence congressional and state-level races.
- Search by client, firm, industry, or issue to see who is spending to shape policy.
- The paid canvassing efforts by the League of Conservation Voters and NRDC Action Fund, shared first with CQ Roll Call, take advantage of a 2024 advisory from the Federal Election Commission that allows outside groups to coordinate with campaigns on canvassing activities.
- So did three other people outside the Presler family.
- NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, the latest engagement showcasing Mamdani’s desire to build bridges with like-minded politicians outside the U.S.
- Candidates and some outside groups have already begun releasing their fundraising hauls before the deadline, as a potential sign of confidence in their war chests in the final stretch before Election Day.
- Outside GOP groups continued their trend of raising huge amounts of money aided by billionaires, controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress.
- Some of President Donald Trump's loyal supporters still have has back, but outside of his rally in Sioux City, Iowa, they want to see change come soon from him and Republicans heading into a crucial midterm election.
- Outside a polling place in West Bloomfield—an affluent Detroit suburb that has a large Jewish community and that is represented by Stevens—some voters I spoke with said they would refuse to vote for El-Sayed in the general election.