Republicans fear even their $1 billion war chest can’t save them in midterms
Por Steven Sloan and Thomas Beaumont — – World RSS Feed
Republicans fear even their $1 billion war chest can’t save them in midterms
Some Republican strategists worry much of the money is being spent too late
Steven Sloan & Thomas Beaumont Wednesday 07 October 2026 07:11 BST
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Republicans have amassed a staggering $1 billion war chest for the midterms, but some in the party fear even that may not be enough to stave off losses as President Donald Trump and his allies scramble to spend their cash in the final month.
The GOP enters the closing stretch facing voter concerns over costs, the Iran war and Trump’s political standing. Republicans also have a huge financial advantage, with major GOP groups holding about $1 billion compared with roughly $579 million for their Democratic counterparts.
But some Republican strategists worry they’re spending much of the money too late.
open image in galleryTrump-aligned MAGA Inc., which reported nearly $416 million in cash at the end of August, ramped up spending in key races in September. Republican Senate campaign officials said the late push has forced Trump-aligned groups to pay dramatically higher advertising prices as available airtime disappears.
In some cases, they are paying more than five times what ads would have cost earlier in the campaign.
A MAGA Inc. representative said the spending has kept races competitive and that the group has sometimes been the only organization airing ads attacking Democratic candidates.
The spending crunch is particularly stark in Texas, where Trump will campaign Wednesday for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
open image in galleryMAGA Inc. has poured more than $22 million into Texas over the past month, while Texas PAC, aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has spent more than $83 million, according to AdImpact.
Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.
The late outside spending comes at a premium. During one football game last month, Texas PAC paid $450,000 for an Austin-area ad that Democratic candidate James Talarico’s campaign secured for $50,000, according to AdImpact.
Longtime Republican pollster Neil Newhouse warned the party may have waited too long.
“A million dollars of advertising in October is a drop in the bucket,” he said.
Republicans have already begun making difficult choices. Thune’s group pulled back spending in North Carolina last week, while outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said the party must now “place your bets” on races it believes it can win.
open image in galleryDemocrats are also competitive in Senate races including Ohio, Maine, Iowa and Michigan, while fighting for control of the House.
Trump, meanwhile, has stepped up his campaign schedule and urged supporters to treat the midterms as a referendum on him.
“In a true way, I am running,” Trump told supporters in Nebraska on Monday. “We have to keep it going.”
Republicans pour millions into Texas
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RepublicansDonald TrumpTexasJohn ThuneNorth CarolinaOhioMaineIowaMichiganNebraskaKen PaxtonGOPDemocratsThom TillisAustin
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