New data sheds light on how secret money is driving the 2026 midterms
Mystery donors are playing a major role in the 2026 midterm elections, and while Republicans benefit from more secret money, both parties are getting in on the action.
The top four super PACs focused on helping Democrats and Republicans win House and Senate elections raised a total of $197.7 million from their affiliated dark money groups between January 2025 and June 2026, according to an Issue One analysis of newly filed campaign finance reports.
During this time, the Republicans came together Senate Leadership Fund (SLF PAC) and Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) as well as the democratically oriented Senate Majority PAC (SMP) and House Majority PAC (HMP), have A total of $714.6 million was raised.
Their four affiliated dark money groups – each known as One nationThe American Action Network, Majority strikerAnd House majority forward – take into account more than $1 of every $4 raised by these four super PACs.
Republican-affiliated groups misused secret donations significantly more often than Democratic-affiliated groups. The two Republican-aligned super PACs account for 58% of total revenue and 58% of money raised by affiliated dark money groups, while the two Democrat-aligned super PACs account for 42% of total revenue and 42% of revenue raised by affiliated dark money groups.
Issue one director of money in policy reform Michael Beckel made the following statement:
“By law, super PACs are supposed to be political groups that disclose their donors. But the sad reality today is that both Republicans and Democrats are pumping huge sums of money into opaque groups, leaving voters in the dark about which ultra-wealthy megadonors and special interests are trying to buy access and influence through large political donations.”
“Our campaign finance system needs meaningful transparency so voters can track money in politics. Anti-corruption guardrails won’t work if voters are kept in the dark about who is funding political advertising. It’s long past time for members of Congress of both parties to take seriously the tsunami of dark money polluting our politics.”
Other key findings from the report include:
- In the second quarter of 2026 the The Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund and the Congressional Leadership Fund each raised more than twice as much money of unknown donors who donated through their affiliated dark money groups than in the first quarter. The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC and the House Majority PAC saw more modest gains in dark money funding.
- The Republican-leaning, Senate-focused party was elected in June Senate Leadership Fund Super PAC received $24.29 million from its affiliated dark money group, known as One nation. That was more than double the $11.18 million it received from One Nation in the previous quarter.
- The Senate Leadership Fund has been in existence since January 2025 raised $70.74 million from One Nation — about 28% of its total revenue.
- So do the Republican-leaning, House-leaning lawmakers Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC received $20 million in June from its affiliated dark money group, known as American Action Network. That was more than double the $7.5 million the company received from American Action Network in the previous quarter.
- The Congressional Leadership Fund has been in existence since January 2025 raised $44.2 million from the American Action Network — about 27% of its total revenue.
- Meanwhile, Democratic-leaning, Senate-focused parties are concentrating Senate Majority PAC Super PAC received $28 million in June from its affiliated dark money group, known as Majority striker. That was just 12% more than the $25 million the company received from Majority Forward in the previous quarter.
- Since January 2025, the PAC has had a majority in the Senate raised $61 million from Majority Forward — about 35% of its total revenue.
- And finally, the Democratic-leaning, House-leaning representatives House Majority PAC Super PAC received $6.5 million in June from its affiliated dark money group, known as House majority forward. That was an increase from the $4 million it received from House Majority Forward in the previous quarter.
- Since January 2025, the House of Representatives has had the PAC majority has now raised $21.7 million from House Majority Forward — about 18% of its total revenue.
Read the full analysis of Issue One.
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Issue One is the leading bipartisan political reform group in Washington, DC. We unite Republicans, Democrats and Independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.
https://issueone.org/press/new-data-illuminates-how-secret-money-fuels-2026-midterms/
