Mystery money floods US midterm election campaigns

An AFP analysis of federal data says five outside groups significantly funded by dark money spent more than $1 billion on the 2026 U.S. midterm campaign by October 25. The article says three groups leaned Republican and that about two-thirds of the spending would benefit Republicans, while Democrats raised more in direct candidate and party donations.

• The five super PACs and hybrid PACs accounted for nearly one-third of non-party spending as of October 25, according to the analysis.· 1 source
• The article says Elon Musk contributed almost $450 million to Republican groups and that about two-thirds of the groups’ billion-dollar spending would benefit Republicans.· 1 source
• Outside groups spent more than $200 million opposing Democrat James Talarico in Texas and nearly $170 million opposing Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s special Senate election, according to the article.· 1 source