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Midterms See Record $11.9 Billion Spending
· Confirmed
In Short: Spending on the 2026 midterm elections is expected to hit a record-breaking $11.9 billion, driven by massive surges in super PAC activity, dark money, and high-dollar donor contributions.
The US midterms campaign is set to be the most expensive on record, with the total cost projected to reach nearly $12 billion (£9 billion), according to Open Secrets, an independent organisation that tracks campaign finance.
More than $9.5 billion had been spent in this midterms cycle as of mid-October, according to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
The top 40 donors gave $2.4 billion up until October 14, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a record high for that point in a midterms cycle.
The nonpartisan research group, which tracks money in U.S. Politics, found that when all final Federal Election Commission disclosures are tallied, the cycle will surpass the previous midterm benchmark set in 2022.
Early voting has surged in the 2026 United States midterm elections with more than 50 million Americans casting their ballots as of Sunday, according to an analysis by the University of Florida.
Michigan has also recorded roughly 409,000 more early votes than at the same point in 2022, a 32 percent increase.
The State Department is assessing how it could grant state and local officials access to federal passport records to verify voters' citizenship status ahead of the midterm elections.
The Republican-led Senate voted Monday to advance a bipartisan permitting reform bill as the chamber returns from its month-long recess for the November midterm elections.
The team said 'baseball is for everyone' in response to the outfielder's Islamophobic posts following the U.S. Midterm elections.
According to Fox News, 3 million total viewers during primetime.
What this adds
The surge in early voting and record spending on the midterms reflects heightened voter engagement and political competition.
The surge in super PAC spending and high-dollar donations has significantly contributed to the unprecedented campaign costs.
What's confirmed
- The US midterms campaign is set to be the most expensive on record, with the total cost projected to reach nearly $12 billion (£9 billion), according to Open Secrets, an independent organisation that tracks campaign finance.
- More than $9.5 billion had been spent in this midterms cycle as of mid-October, according to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
- The top 40 donors gave $2.4 billion up until October 14, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a record high for that point in a midterms cycle.
- The nonpartisan research group, which tracks money in U.S. Politics, found that when all final Federal Election Commission disclosures are tallied, the cycle will surpass the previous midterm benchmark set in 2022.
- Early voting has surged in the 2026 United States midterm elections with more than 50 million Americans casting their ballots as of Sunday, according to an analysis by the University of Florida.
- Michigan has also recorded roughly 409,000 more early votes than at the same point in 2022, a 32 percent increase.
- The State Department is assessing how it could grant state and local officials access to federal passport records to verify voters' citizenship status ahead of the midterm elections.
- The Republican-led Senate voted Monday to advance a bipartisan permitting reform bill as the chamber returns from its month-long recess for the November midterm elections.
- The team said 'baseball is for everyone' in response to the outfielder's Islamophobic posts following the U.S. Midterm elections.
- According to Fox News, 3 million total viewers during primetime.
What's still developing
- Pacs and Super Pacs make up more than half of that - at about $5.5bn - with their spending in the last couple of months almost doubling.
- Spending on the 2026 midterm elections is expected to hit a record-breaking $11.9 billion, driven by massive surges in super PAC activity, dark money, and high-dollar donor contributions, according to a new report from OpenSecrets.
- AdImpact says October’s spending surge is fueling unprecedented demand, with two Senate races topping $500 million each.
- The increase makes this the second-largest political advertising cycle on record, trailing only what was spent during the 2023-24 presidential cycle.
- His stop in the city of Grand Island was part of Trump’s 32-day sprint to the November 3 midterm elections, a campaign in which he is spending considerable time in conservative strongholds, helping defend Senate and House seats that until several months ago were considered safe for Republicans.
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday found Trump’s approval rating at 32%, matching the lowest reading of his political career, while registered voters preferred Democrats over Republicans 44% to 37% when asked which party they would support in the midterms.
- Diesel climbed to a record $6.31, compared with $3.70 in September 2025, according to "AAA".
- The chief-of-staff change came three days after Republicans were demolished in Trump’s final midterm election, with House Democrats on pace for the largest majority in over a decade and at least a 54-seat Senate majority come January.
- Both have been blamed for contributing to a cost-of-living crisis.
- A record number of early votes is cast as both parties campaign before Tuesday’s polls.
- Search by client, firm, industry, or issue to see who is spending to shape policy.
- Among independents, Democrats led 37% to 21%, with 28% undecided.