Here’s what Trump just did.
President Donald Trump is committing major financial resources to the 2026 midterm elections, as allied political groups spend tens of millions of dollars on closely watched Senate and House contests nationwide.
With Election Day only weeks away, Republicans are fighting to maintain control of Congress, and Trump’s political organizations are stepping up spending in some of the most closely watched races on the map.
MAGA Inc., No Going Back PAC Inc. and Safety & Affordability PAC Inc. have committed substantial resources to contests in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, New Hampshire, Florida, New York and other states.
The spending illustrates just how important the 2026 midterms have become for Trump and the Republican Party. Control of the House and Senate could determine how much of the president’s agenda Republicans are able to advance during the second half of his term.
And with hundreds of millions of dollars potentially available, Trump’s political network is making an enormous bet on the outcome.
Trump’s Midterm War Chest Gives Republicans a Major Weapon
Trump’s main political organization enters the closing weeks of the election with considerable financial firepower.
MAGA Inc. reported approximately $415 million in cash on hand as of late August, according to federal campaign finance records.
Trump has previously indicated that his political operation could spend between $400 million and $500 million during the midterm election cycle.
That level of spending gives Trump considerable influence over where Republicans can compete.
In congressional races where television advertisements, digital campaigns and voter outreach can cost millions of dollars, additional funding could make an important difference during the final stretch.
However, Republican strategists also acknowledge that campaign money cannot solve every political problem.
One GOP operative involved in the midterms said the biggest threat facing Republicans may still be Americans’ concerns about the cost of living.
If Republican candidates struggle in November, the operative suggested that frustration over household expenses could matter more than whether GOP political organizations spent enough money.
That makes the economy one of the central issues hanging over the 2026 elections.
Texas Senate Race Becomes a Major Trump Priority
One of Trump’s biggest investments is taking place in Texas.
MAGA Inc. has spent approximately $25 million in the Senate contest between Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, according to federal campaign finance filings.
The unusually large investment reflects the competitive nature of a race Republicans would traditionally expect to win.
A polling average compiled by Decision Desk HQ showed Talarico holding a narrow advantage of slightly more than two percentage points over Paxton.
Whether that advantage holds through Election Day remains uncertain, but the polling has helped turn Texas into one of the most closely watched Senate contests in the country.
Republicans have long relied on Texas as a cornerstone of their national electoral coalition. Losing a Senate seat there would therefore represent a significant setback.
Paxton entered the general election after a contentious Republican primary.
His candidacy has attracted national attention following years of political controversy, including an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.
The Senate Republican campaign establishment had previously opposed Paxton during his primary battle against Sen. John Cornyn.
Now, however, Republican organizations are spending heavily to keep the seat.
Republican Groups Pour More Than $100 Million Into Texas
Trump’s organization is far from the only Republican group investing in the Texas Senate race.
Texas PAC, which is affiliated with Senate Republican leadership, has reported spending more than $130 million supporting Paxton and opposing Talarico.
That means Republican political organizations have already committed enormous resources to preventing Democrats from scoring a major upset.
A source familiar with Trump’s political operation said differences between spending by MAGA Inc. and other Republican organizations should not be viewed as evidence of disagreement.
Instead, the source said Trump-aligned groups have been communicating with organizations such as the Congressional Leadership Fund and Senate Leadership Fund to determine where additional money can have the greatest effect.
The strategy involves identifying gaps in advertising markets and concentrating spending during periods when Republican candidates may need additional support.
That kind of coordination among outside political organizations could become increasingly important as Election Day approaches.
MAGA Inc. Also Played a Role in South Carolina
MAGA Inc. has made investments beyond Texas.
Earlier in the campaign, Trump’s main super PAC spent more than $825,000 supporting Republican Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s Republican Senate primary against Rep. Ralph Norman.
Graham secured the Republican nomination and moved on to the general election, where she is competing against Democrat Annie Andrews.
The reported spending figures cover money already spent and do not necessarily include future advertising reservations.
That distinction is important because political groups often reserve television, radio and digital advertising weeks before the advertisements actually appear.
As Election Day gets closer, the total amount of Trump-aligned spending could therefore increase substantially.
Ohio Senate Race Draws Nearly $23 Million
No Going Back PAC is playing an especially large role in several competitive Senate elections.
Ohio is among its biggest targets.
The Trump-affiliated organization has spent close to $23 million in the Senate race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Brown is one of the best-known Democratic politicians in Ohio, while Republicans are working to defend a state that has moved increasingly toward the GOP in recent national elections.
A competitive Senate race in Ohio has therefore become an important part of the broader battle over control of Congress.
For Republicans, retaining the seat would help protect their Senate position.
For Democrats, defeating Husted would provide a potential path toward changing the balance of power in Washington.
Michigan Senate Battle Attracts Millions
Michigan is receiving similar attention.
No Going Back PAC has invested approximately $17.5 million in the Senate race between former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
Michigan has become one of the country’s most important political battlegrounds, with Republicans and Democrats regularly competing for statewide races.
That makes the Senate contest particularly valuable.
The state’s large population, competitive political environment and national importance make Michigan one of the places where outside spending could have a major effect.
Millions more could be invested there before voters head to the polls.
North Carolina Is Another Key Senate Target
North Carolina is also high on the list.
Nearly $10 million has reportedly been spent supporting former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley and opposing former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
The state has produced extremely close statewide elections in recent years, making it a frequent destination for national campaign money.
A victory in North Carolina could prove important for either party’s hopes of controlling the Senate.
That explains why Trump-aligned organizations are committing substantial resources to the contest.
Georgia and New Hampshire Receive Major Investments
Several other Senate races are also attracting millions from No Going Back PAC.
Approximately $7.4 million has been spent in New Hampshire, where Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu is competing against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
Georgia is another major target.
More than $5 million has been spent supporting Republican Rep. Mike Collins and opposing Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Georgia has become one of America’s most competitive political states, producing close presidential, Senate and statewide elections.
That makes the state especially important in any national battle for congressional control.
Alaska has also received more than $5 million from the Trump-affiliated organization.
Together, these races demonstrate how widely Trump’s political network is spreading its resources.
Republican Political Advertising Surges
The spending extends well beyond direct campaign support.
Ad-tracking firm AdImpact reported that roughly $43 million from No Going Back PAC had already been spent on aired advertising across six major Senate races.
Another $32 million had reportedly been spent on advertising for competitive House elections.
And considerably more money is waiting on the sidelines.
Nearly $26 million in future Senate advertising was reportedly reserved across Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Alaska and Georgia.
Political advertising traditionally becomes much more intense during the final weeks before Election Day.
That means voters in battleground states could see a flood of additional campaign commercials as Republicans and Democrats make their closing arguments.
Republicans Hold a Significant Spending Advantage
Republican organizations currently have a notable financial advantage in congressional advertising.
According to AdImpact, Republicans had outspent Democrats by nearly $190 million in Senate battleground advertising.
The firm said it was the first time since at least 2020 that Republicans held the Senate advertising advantage at this stage of an election cycle.
That could give GOP candidates an important advantage when it comes to reaching undecided voters.
But overall spending is only one measure of campaign strength.
Several competitive Democratic candidates have continued to post strong fundraising numbers, and some have raised more money directly than their Republican opponents.
Candidate fundraising can be especially valuable because campaigns often receive better advertising rates than outside political organizations.
As a result, the financial picture remains complicated despite Republicans’ overall advantage.
Trump-Aligned Groups Target Competitive House Races
The battle for the House is receiving just as much attention.
No Going Back PAC has poured more than $7 million into Florida’s 25th Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz is running against Republican Scott Singer.
Florida has shifted toward Republicans in recent election cycles, but individual congressional districts can remain highly competitive.
Another major investment is occurring in New York.
Nearly $6.6 million has been spent in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, represented by Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi.
New York has become increasingly important in the fight for control of the House because suburban districts surrounding New York City have produced some of the country’s closest congressional elections.
Republican groups have also directed nearly $4 million toward Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, which is represented by GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga.
Why Republicans Are Spending Money in Red Districts
Some of the Trump-aligned spending is occurring in districts Republicans are already favored to win.
That has raised questions among political observers.
No Going Back PAC has spent approximately $285,000 in Texas’ 9th Congressional District, which was redrawn in 2025 in a way that strengthened Republicans.
Republican Alex Mealer is running against Democrat Leticia Gutierrez.
Decision Desk HQ has rated the contest as likely Republican.
The organization has also spent more than $235,000 in Texas’ 23rd District.
Republican Brandon Herrera is facing Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in that race, which is also expected to favor the GOP.
From a distance, spending in Republican-leaning districts might appear unusual.
But Trump’s political operation appears to view those investments as an insurance policy.
Trump Allies Want Democratic Attacks Answered
A source familiar with Trump-aligned spending said Republican organizations are working to ensure Democratic advertising and campaign messaging does not go unchallenged, including in districts where GOP candidates hold an advantage.
The strategy appears designed to prevent Democrats from expanding the political battlefield.
If Democrats force Republicans to defend seats that normally would not require significant spending, GOP organizations could have less money available for genuine toss-up races.
Trump’s political network is therefore attempting to defend vulnerable areas while simultaneously putting pressure on Democratic districts.
Republicans are also looking for potential pickup opportunities in districts including New York’s 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts and Florida’s 14th and 25th Districts.
The strategy is both defensive and offensive.
Trump’s Visits to Republican States Raise Questions
Not every Republican strategist is convinced that the spending pattern is encouraging.
Trump’s recent and planned political appearances in traditionally Republican states such as Nebraska, Oklahoma and Alaska have attracted attention.
One Republican operative who worked with a presidential super PAC during the 2024 election described such visits as potential warning signs.
The concern is simple: presidential appearances and major campaign investments are normally focused on the most competitive states.
When resources begin flowing toward reliably Republican territory, some strategists may interpret it as evidence that races are closer than expected.
Whether those concerns prove justified will become clearer as additional polling and early voting information emerge.
Safety & Affordability PAC Joins the Midterm Battle
Another Trump-aligned organization is now becoming more active.
Safety & Affordability PAC Inc. recently filed its first major spending report with the Federal Election Commission.
The filing revealed that the organization had directed thousands of dollars toward multiple closely contested House races.
Approximately $250,000 was spent opposing Democrat Bob Brooks.
Nearly $190,000 went toward opposing Democrat Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin’s 3rd District.
The PAC also directed roughly $845,000 toward efforts opposing Democrat Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
Brooks is challenging Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, while Cooke is running against Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden.
In Arizona, Shah is competing against Republican Jay Feely for an open congressional seat in the Scottsdale area.
The group is reportedly active in Maine’s politically competitive 2nd Congressional District as well.
Previous reports indicated Safety & Affordability PAC had reserved at least $27 million in advertising.
That suggests significantly more spending could still be coming.
Cost of Living Could Decide the Midterms
Despite all the attention surrounding campaign spending, one issue continues to dominate the political conversation: household finances.
Republican strategists acknowledge that Americans remain focused on the cost of groceries, housing, energy, insurance, health care and other everyday expenses.
Those concerns could ultimately matter more than the number of campaign advertisements voters see.
Democrats have increasingly attempted to connect health care policy with the broader affordability debate.
Their campaigns have highlighted the expiration of certain Affordable Care Act tax credits and changes involving Medicaid while arguing that Republican policies could increase costs for some families.
Republicans, meanwhile, have emphasized issues including immigration, public safety, taxes and economic growth.
The question for both parties is which argument voters will find more persuasive.
Trump Is Betting Big on Republican Control of Congress
The political stakes extend well beyond individual House and Senate races.
The outcome of the 2026 midterm elections could determine whether Trump continues working with a Republican-controlled Congress or faces one or both chambers controlled by Democrats.
A Republican Congress could make it easier for the White House to advance legislation, approve spending priorities and pursue other elements of Trump’s agenda.
Democratic control of either chamber could create new obstacles.
That makes maintaining congressional majorities one of the most important political objectives facing Trump during the remainder of his presidency.
His political operation appears willing to spend heavily to achieve it.
Can Money Decide the 2026 Midterms?
Campaign money matters, but it does not guarantee victory.
Political advertising can introduce candidates to voters, respond to attacks, promote policy positions and increase turnout.
But voters ultimately make decisions based on a combination of factors, including the economy, presidential approval, local candidates and major national issues.
That creates uncertainty even for campaigns backed by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Trump’s political organizations clearly believe aggressive spending can help Republicans protect vulnerable seats and potentially capture Democratic-held districts.
Democrats are betting that concerns about affordability, health care and the direction of the country will overcome the Republican financial advantage.
The final result will be determined at the ballot box.
For now, one thing is clear: Trump is putting an extraordinary amount of political money behind the Republican Party’s effort to keep control of Congress.
With millions already being spent and millions more reserved for the closing weeks, the 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to become one of the most expensive congressional battles in recent history.
And with control of Washington hanging in the balance, Trump’s massive investment represents far more than another round of campaign advertising.
It is a high-stakes bet on the future of his presidency.