Republicans Outspent Democrats $36 Million on Immigration Ads Across 88 Races

Republicans and supporting organizations spent $53 million on nearly 300 ads mentioning or focused on immigration from January through June 2026, according to an NPR analysis of AdImpact data. Democrats and supporting organizations spent $17 million on 62 such ads. The Republican ads aired in 88 races across 27 states.

Democratic ads ran in 20 races across 11 states, primarily California, New York and Illinois. One $928,000 ad in the Michigan governor's race featured Republican candidate Perry Johnson saying, "No greater example of waste, fraud, and abuse in Michigan than using our tax dollars to give benefits to illegal immigrants.

" An ad funded by the MAGA KY PAC that cost over $831,000 stated, "Republicans stood up for Americans.

Democrats sat down for illegals. " Thomas Massie lost his Republican primary to Trump-endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein. The Illinois Future PAC ran two ads, each worth more than $800,000, supporting Juliana Stratton's stance on abolishing ICE.

Stratton won the Illinois Democratic primary for Senate. Zach Lahn spent about $475,000 on a May ad vowing to ban H-1B visa holders from Iowa government agencies and universities. Jim Oberweis spent $880,000 on seven ads advocating for ending birthright citizenship in Florida's 19th congressional district.

A majority of Republican immigration ads include keywords such as "securing the border" and discuss border wall funding and crime. Some also address limiting commercial driver's licenses and supporting the SAVE America Act. A Gallup poll released in July 2026 shows most Americans think immigration is a good thing and a majority support some form of pathway to citizenship rather than a blanket deportation policy.