US parties splurged on the midterms – but research shows the link between spending and success is weak
The Conversation · 11 Nov 2026

US parties splurged on the midterms – but research shows the link between spending and success is weak

The 2026 US midterms set a record for campaign spending in a congressional election. According to OpenSecrets, a Washington-based non-profit organisation that tracks and publishes data on US campaign financing and lobbying, the Democratic and Republican parties are estimated to have spent nearly US$12 billion (£8.9 billion) between them. Both parties spend more in total on campaigning in presidential election years, as the chart below shows.


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