Trump-Aligned PACs Spend $138 Million on Midterm Ads

Political groups aligned with Donald Trump have launched a spending blitz of approximately $138 million over a 10-day period to support Republican candidates in the midterm elections. The funding is driven by the super PAC Make America Great Again Inc., which held over $400 million in reserves as of July, and two pop-up groups established on September 1 by operative Charles Gantt.

No Going Back PAC Inc. has reserved between $95 million and $98.5 million for advertisements, primarily targeting Senate races in Michigan, Ohio, and Alaska. Safety and Affordability PAC Inc. has slated $27 million for House races, with a focus on New York, Florida, and Michigan. Together with $9 million to $11 million from Make America Great Again Inc., these groups are targeting roughly 50 general-election races.

The surge in spending follows requests for aid from Republican candidates facing a challenging political climate characterized by the president's low approval ratings and economic concerns regarding fuel prices and a war with Iran. The move also addresses criticism from some Republicans who questioned if Trump's financial resources would be used to support party candidates. However, because these super PACs pay market rates rather than the discounted rates available to individual campaigns, the financial impact may be diminished by higher late-season advertising costs.