Total spending for the 2026 midterms is on track to hit an all-time record of nearly $12 billion, representing a roughly 30% increase over the 2022 cycle. More than half of the $9.5 billion spent by mid-October came from outside groups like super PACs that accept unlimited funds. A substantial portion of this capital stems from major individual donors like Elon Musk, George Soros, and Michael Bloomberg, alongside corporate interests such as cryptocurrency firms. Musk's America PAC notably concentrated significant resources into critical battlegrounds, directing more than $45 million into the Texas Senate race alone.
Key points
The 2026 midterms are projected to become the most expensive in U.S. history with total e…: The 2026 midterms are projected to become the most expensive in U.S. history with total expenditures nearing $12 billion.
A small cohort of wealthy mega-donors and corporations is driving the majority of outside…: A small cohort of wealthy mega-donors and corporations is driving the majority of outside spending through super PACs.
Substantial financial reserves are strategically targeting high-stakes Senate races in Te…: Substantial financial reserves are strategically targeting high-stakes Senate races in Texas, Ohio, and Michigan to mobilize voters.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The 2026 US midterm election campaign is expected to become the most expensive in the country's history, with total spending projected to reach nearly $12 billion, according to Opensecrets, an independent organisation that monitors campaign finances.
A significant share of the expenditure is being driven by outside political groups, particularly super political action committees (Super PACs), which are investing heavily in key electoral contests ahead of the November 3 election.
Billionaire businessman Elon Musk has emerged as the biggest individual donor, contributing nearly half a billion dollars to support republican candidates. Much of his spending has focused on Texas, where several of his companies are headquartered.
BBC Verify has examined the campaign finance figures to assess how much has been spent, who is funding the candidates and where the money is going.
The president says he has held 31 rallies over 27 days, along with many tele-rallies, a term that's been used recently in US media to describe when a politician phones into a rally.
How much money has been spent?
US campaign finance regulations place limits on the amount…
Lead American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will guide discussions in the United Arab Emirates aimed at achieving a diplomatic breakthrough before winter sets in. The initiative follows direct engagement between Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg amid stepped-up White House pressure on Kyiv to negotiate an end to the fighting. Working-level meetings in Brussels with key European allies and NATO will lay the groundwork for proposed security guarantees and reconstruction aid.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh claimed the opposition's protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls stems from the removal of fraudulent voters. He accused former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of leaning on Congress leadership due to her diminishing political influence across the state. In response, ruling party workers plan statewide counter-rallies while cabinet ministers oversee local district security during major upcoming religious festivals.
Following a deadly maritime strike off the coast of Limah, New Delhi is actively coordinating with local officials to repatriate the surviving crew members and the deceased seafarer's remains. The foreign ministry warned that persistent strikes on commercial shipping severely undermine international law and global waterways. Consequently, diplomatic envoys are calling for an immediate de-escalation of regional hostilities through conclusive negotiations.