Outside political groups have spent $693.6 million directly opposing Democratic Senate candidates in seven key battleground states, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings analyzed by Newsweek. The spending targets races in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas—all identified as tossup contests in 2026 polling.
The total includes $245.4 million in pro-Republican expenditures, bringing combined GOP support to $939 million across these states. Democratic-aligned groups have spent $528 million, including $128.7 million backing their candidates and $399.3 million opposing Republicans.
Record-Breaking Ad Spending
The 2026 election cycle has set a new record for political advertising, with $11.2 billion spent on aired ads and future reservations, according to AdImpact. In the final week alone, $405 million is projected for the top 15 House and Senate races, with spending expected to rise further before Election Day.
Spending Breakdown by State
In Maine, outside groups have spent $63.3 million opposing Democratic candidate Troy Jackson, nearly double the $32.3 million spent against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Jackson has received $10.3 million in backing, compared to $7.5 million for Collins.
Texas has seen the highest opposition spending, with $207.6 million directed against Democratic candidate James Talarico—over nine times the $22.9 million spent in his favor.
National House Race Spending
Separate data from the Washington Examiner highlights the 10 most expensive House races of the 2026 midterms, with total ad spending exceeding $1.6 billion in general elections. The final-week surge underscores where each party believes it can make the most impact in the campaign’s final days.