MAGA Inc. has spent $277 million on the midterms; Here’s where the money has gone
A late ad blitz targets key Senate and House battlegrounds across the country as Election Day nears.
President Trump’s flagship super PAC has spent nearly $277 million since the start of September, ramping up spending to help Republicans hold Congress. Most of that money went through two affiliated groups formed this fall, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
MAGA Inc. sent $200 million to No Going Back PAC Inc. and $25 million to Safety & Affordability PAC Inc. Both groups were formed Sept. 1 and list the same treasurer as MAGA Inc. in FEC records. Through Oct. 14, the two groups had reported more than $209 million in independent expenditures.
The largest share has gone to Senate races. No Going Back spent nearly $30 million in Michigan, $27.8 million in Ohio, $11.8 million in New Hampshire and $9.9 million in North Carolina, according to CNBC’s analysis of the filings. Those four races account for about $79 million.
The group has since pulled back in North Carolina. It canceled most of its remaining ad reservations there after spending about $32.8 million, as former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper held a double-digit lead in polling averages over GOP nominee Mike Whatley.
In the House, the Trump-aligned money is going to Republican-held seats as well as Democratic targets. No Going Back has spent about $5 million each in Michigan’s 4th and North Carolina’s 11th districts, each held by Republicans. It has spent another $14.4 million combined in Florida’s 14th and 25th districts, each held by Democrats.
MAGA Inc. has saved most of its own direct spending for Texas. Its first general-election buy was a $10 million digital and television campaign backing Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who's running against Democrat James Talarico. FEC records show the PAC has now reported about $22.9 million in independent expenditures opposing Talarico.
The more than $300 million in total disbursements from MAGA Inc. mostly surged in the fall, after months of relative inactivity. Through the end of June, MAGA Inc. had spent only about $21 million in 2026, most of it to boost Georgia Rep. Clay Fuller in an April special election.
Several Republicans, including Rep. James Comer, of Kentucky, had publicly urged the president to spend down the PAC’s massive reserves.
The wait has cost the Trump groups. Super PACs pay higher television rates than candidates, and buying air time late in the cycle has meant paying sometimes more than five times what earlier bookings would have cost.
MAGA Inc. still had more than $164 million in cash as of Oct. 14, with less than two weeks until Election Day. It raised $28.5 million in September, including a $14 million transfer from the Republican National Committee.
On Truth Social earlier this week, Trump said he has spent or will spend more than $400 million by Election Day.
The spending has also drawn a legal challenge. The Campaign Legal Center filed an FEC complaint on Sept. 14. It argues that Trump’s own statements that he directs MAGA Inc.’s spending show the PAC is illegally raising and spending soft money.
The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook
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- spent nearly $277 million
- same treasurer as MAGA Inc.
- more than $209 million in independent expenditures
- spending about $32.8 million
- $10 million digital and television campaign
- $22.9 million in independent expenditures
- spent only about $21 million
- publicly urged
- sometimes more than five times
- filed an FEC complaint