Trump's MAGA Inc. reports nearly $277 million spent since September ahead of midterms
In short
President Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., has reported spending nearly $277 million since the start of September to help Republicans in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to new federal campaign finance filings. The AP and The New York Times describe the amount as unprecedented. CNBC reports the PAC's cycle total at $300.5 million through Oct. 14.
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President Donald Trump's political groups have spent more than one-quarter of a billion dollars to support Republicans in the final stretch of this year's midterm elections, the AP reported. It described this as an unprecedented amount for a sitting president, and said it underscores the stakes of the Nov. 3 vote. MAGA Inc. has reported spending nearly $277 million since the beginning of September, according to new federal campaign finance filings. [ 5 , 7 ]
Bloomberg reported that the $277 million went out from the start of September through the first two weeks of October, while the PAC raised another $25 million. The New York Times said the spending has no parallel in American history and could offer struggling Republican candidates a lifeline. It added that, since returning to office, Trump has raised hundreds of millions of dollars into MAGA Inc., including from donors and corporations with business before his administration. [ 1 , 2 ]
Much of the money is moving through two affiliated groups. MAGA Inc. sent $200 million to No Going Back PAC Inc. and $25 million to Safety & Affordability PAC Inc., which have been spending millions on advertising. CNBC reported that the two groups have reported more than $209 million in independent expenditures between them. It said Safety & Affordability has spent $3.76 million in Arizona's 1st District, $1.84 million in Maine's 2nd, $1.6 million in Wisconsin's 3rd, $1.48 million in North Carolina's 1st and $1.4 million in Ohio's 10th. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
CNBC gave a different, larger total. It said MAGA Inc. reported $300.5 million in disbursements through Oct. 14, with $75.5 million spent in the first two weeks of October, and still held $164.3 million in cash. Trump said Tuesday that his political operation would spend more than $400 million by Election Day, CNBC reported. It said GOP operatives had worried as recently as September that the cash would stay largely on the sidelines. [ 3 ]
Corry Bliss, a GOP strategist who was executive director of the Congressional Leadership Fund in the 2018 campaign, told the AP: "It's more than any president has ever spent, by far, on the midterms." The AP said Trump had been under intense pressure to help Republican candidates as the party struggles to hold slim majorities in the House and Senate. It cited low approval ratings, voter frustration over persistently high costs and the unpopular war with Iran. [ 5 , 7 ]
The AP said Republicans have a large financial advantage over Democrats this cycle, aided by billionaires such as Elon Musk. It reported that the three Trump-affiliated groups that must report their donors have spent more than $256 million on advertising, according to AdImpact, including tens of millions of dollars in Texas to help Senate candidate Ken Paxton in his race against Democrat James Talarico. [ 5 , 7 ]
Why it matters
Republicans are struggling to hold slim majorities in the House and Senate, and the AP reports that Trump had been under pressure to help candidates. CNBC says the spending is likely to ease Republican worry that the money would stay on the sidelines.
Key facts
- MAGA Inc. has reported spending nearly $277 million since the beginning of September, according to new federal campaign finance filings. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Bloomberg reports the $277 million was spent from the start of September through the first two weeks of October, and that the PAC raised another $25 million over that time. [ 2 ]
- MAGA Inc. sent $200 million to No Going Back PAC Inc. and $25 million to Safety & Affordability PAC Inc. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- CNBC reports MAGA Inc. disbursed $300.5 million through Oct. 14, including $75.5 million in the first two weeks of October, and still held $164.3 million in cash. [ 3 ]
- Trump said his political operation would spend more than $400 million by Election Day, CNBC reports. [ 3 ]
- The three Trump-affiliated groups that must report their donors have spent more than $256 million on advertising, according to AdImpact. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Safety & Affordability PAC has spent $3.76 million in Arizona's 1st District and $1.84 million in Maine's 2nd, according to CNBC's analysis of its filing. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- MAGA Inc. reported spending about $277 million in the final stretch of the midterm campaign, beginning in September. [ 2 , 5 , 7 ]
- MAGA Inc. transferred $200 million to No Going Back PAC and $25 million to Safety & Affordability PAC. [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- The spending is described as unprecedented: The New York Times says it has no parallel in American history, and the AP calls it an unprecedented amount for a sitting president. [ 1 , 5 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- How the $277 million figure relates to the $300.5 million total CNBC reports. The $277 million is described as spending since September, while CNBC's $300.5 million is a cycle total through Oct. 14; the documents do not reconcile the two.
- Whether Trump's operation will reach the more than $400 million he said it would spend by Election Day. This is Trump's own statement as reported by CNBC alone.
- The effect of the spending on the election results. The documents describe the spending but do not report any outcome.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The New York Times publishes its report on the $277 million spending, on Oct. 20. [ 1 ]
- Bloomberg publishes its report on the PAC's spending and $25 million in fundraising, on Oct. 20. [ 2 ]
- CNBC publishes its report on the new filings, on Oct. 21. [ 3 ]
- The Seattle Times publishes the AP report, on Oct. 21. [ 5 ]
- Reuters publishes its report, on Oct. 21. [ 6 ]
- PBS NewsHour publishes the AP report, on Oct. 21. [ 7 ]