politics
Republican Senate Nominees in Six Battlegrounds Form Independent Super PACs; Democratic Nominees Maintain Single Structure
Republican candidates or presumptive nominees in Maine, Iowa, Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan have established their own well-funded super PACs for the 2026 midterms. The shift reduces reliance on the Senate Leadership Fund and departs from prior practice.
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Republican Senate nominees or presumptive nominees in Maine, Iowa, Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan have established their own well-funded super PACs for the 2026 midterm elections. Advertising records show the groups allow candidates to accept unlimited contributions and reduce dependence on the Senate Leadership Fund for general-election spending.
The approach marks a departure from the past decade, when party leaders and the Senate Leadership Fund typically discouraged candidates from creating independent committees.
Mark Harris, a top adviser on David McCormick’s 2024 Senate campaign in Pennsylvania, said many campaigns will need their own super PACs. “In a big Senate race, you need everything you can get,” he said. The Senate Leadership Fund operated for 11 years under Steven Law, a former chief of staff to Sen.
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Alex Latcham, a former aide to President Donald Trump, succeeded Law after the 2024 election. Latcham said he is generally supportive of candidates having their own super PACs.
“Our mission is to beat Democrats, and any efficient, competent efforts that aid in this goal are welcomed,” Latcham said. The main Democratic Senate super PAC, Senate Majority PAC, aligned with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, continues to discourage nominees from forming their own groups.
Democratic nominees in top races this year do not have their own well-funded super PACs. Steven Law said the Senate Leadership Fund had initially followed the model used by Senate Majority PAC but that his position had evolved away from active resistance.
