Trump's political groups spend nearly $277 million in late midterm blitz
on behalf of GOP candidates
[October 22, 2026]
By JILL COLVIN and THOMAS BEAUMONT
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's political groups have spent
more than one-quarter of a billion dollars to bolster Republicans in the
final stretch of this year's midterm elections, an unprecedented amount
for a sitting president that underscores the stakes on Nov. 3.
In total, Trump's flagship super PAC, MAGA Inc., has reported spending
nearly $277 million since the beginning of September, according to new
federal campaign finance filings. That includes major transfers to two
affiliated groups that have been spending millions on advertising: $200
million to No Going Back PAC Inc. and $25 million to Safety &
Affordability PAC Inc.
“It’s more than any president has ever spent, by far, on the midterms,”
said Corry Bliss, a GOP Senate and House campaign strategist who was the
executive director of the Congressional Leadership Fund, House
Republicans’ super PAC in the 2018 campaign.
Trump had been under intense pressure to help Republican candidates as
his party struggles to hold onto its slim majorities in the House and
Senate. While the party in power almost always loses seats in midterm
elections, Republicans are facing an especially challenging climb after
Trump helped defeat several of the party's longtime incumbents and as he
has been mired in low approval ratings amid deep voter frustration over
persistently high costs and the unpopular war with Iran.
One bright spot for Republicans has been their huge financial advantage
over Democrats this election cycle, aided by billionaires such as Elon
Musk.
Trump-affiliated groups are now on track to spend potentially more.
So far, the three that have to report their donors have spent more than
$256 million on advertising, according to AdImpact, which tracks media
spending and reservations. That includes tens of millions of dollars in
Texas to help embattled Senate candidate Ken Paxton in his race against
Democrat James Talarico.
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President Donald Trump waves as he walks to depart on Marine One
from the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in
Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Musk has also invested heavily in Texas, leading Talarico to accuse him
of trying to buy the seat.
MAGA Inc. had more than $164 million cash left in the bank as of Oct.
14, meaning it still has plenty left to spend.
But the Trump team's decision to wait until late in the cycle to begin
advertising has diluted their spending power. The groups are paying far
higher ad rates because of the shrinking availability of air time —
sometimes more than five times what they would have spent if they had
acted sooner.
In a post on his social media site Tuesday, Trump said that he planned
to spend "over 400 Million Dollars by Election Day,” including $300
million he said had already been spent on advertising, voter contact,
rallies, tele-rallies, get-out-the-vote programs and efforts to prevent
voters from cheating.
MAGA Inc. began September with nearly $416 million in the bank. It has
continued to raise huge sums of cash from billionaire backers including
businessperson Diane Hendricks, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen A.
Schwarzman and casino magnate Steve Wynn.
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Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
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