Millions of Dollars in Secret Spending Could Upend the 2026 Midterms

From The New York Times: Analysis by The New York Times has found that more than $1 billion dollars in money from anonymous donors is being spent on the 2026 midterm elections. Known as “dark money,” it comes from organizations that are not required to disclose their donors. Because these organizations are not subject to many (if any) disclosure requirements, the $1 billion figure only represents part of the picture, which the NYT could track down from public advertising purchases and transfers to Super PACs. Other forms of spending, such as mail campaigns and hiring online influencers and door-knockers, are significantly harder to track. These “dark money” groups are dropping tens of millions of dollars on elections, with no indication where the money is coming from.

With elections nearing, battleground Republicans still waiting for Trump to open his campaign wallet

From The Associated Press: President Trump’s Super PAC, MAGA Inc., is sitting on more than $400 million in cash on hand as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The organization has been continually raising money, but has spent very little of it this year, aside from $830,000 to support Darlene Graham in South Carolina. The organization claims that it is planning to spend more money on the midterms, but has yet to announce concrete plans. As a result of the uncertainty, many Republicans are becoming nervous, especially battleground candidates who would benefit from the PAC’s support. Prices for advertising are also increasing as the election nears.

Three candidates now face a criminal probe over public campaign funding fraud allegations

From AZ Mirror: Three statewide candidates in Arizona are facing an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for allegedly using fraudulent donations to qualify for public campaign funds. Investigations by the AZ Mirror and Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission found that the three candidates reported receiving $5 qualifying contributions from the same 4,000 people, some of whom reported never making those donations despite their signatures appearing on the forms. In total, $4.7 million in public funds were disbursed to the three candidates. Two ran as Green Party candidates, and one as a Republican. The Green Party has disavowed the two candidates and accused them of being Republican plants, and they are now being represented by a “veteran Republican election attorney.”

National progressive group reveals $455K Delaware campaign, but donors unclear

From Spotlight Delaware:The Working Families Party National PAC has spent nearly half a million dollars backing progressive candidates in Democratic party primaries in Delaware, but has not disclosed where the money came from. The PAC recently filed a campaign finance report with the Delaware Department of Elections that detailed its spending, but did not disclose its donors. The PAC claims that it was told by the DoE that it did not need to disclose its donors as long as it filed with the Federal Election Commission, but a spokeswoman for the DoE called that a “misunderstanding.” The PAC was also fined for filing the report late.