September Ad Spending Pushes 2026 Senate Races Toward Record Costs
About $390 million in Senate ads is reserved for September as outside groups widen the 2026 battleground map and voters await fuller disclosures.
Campaign finance
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FEC reminds groups of fast disclosure rules as midterm spending grows
The FEC is reminding political groups that some independent expenditures must be disclosed within 24 or 48 hours as 2026 midterm spending grows.
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MAGA Inc. Spends $827,711 Before South Carolina GOP Runoff
MAGA Inc. reported $827,711 in independent spending for Darline Graham before South Carolina’s Aug. 25 GOP runoff, offering a look at 2026 strategy.
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Fourth Circuit blocks FCC expansion of discounted political ad rates
A divided appeals court set aside FCC guidance that would have extended discounted broadcast rates to some party and joint-fundraising committees.
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Public Citizen: Corporate money reaches $646 million in 2026 midterms
A Public Citizen analysis of FEC filings finds $646 million in disclosed corporate contributions to federal super PACs and hybrid PACs through June 30.
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Arizona Clean Elections panel authorizes investigation into candidates who received $4.7 million in public funds
Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections Commission authorized further investigation of three statewide candidates over alleged $5 contribution irregularities tied to about $4.7 million in public campaign funding.
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Vermont campaign-finance compliance report draws scrutiny ahead of general election
A Secretary of State report found 409 of 429 Vermont candidates registered, but 41 registered candidates still lacked an August 1 report or affidavit as of August 6.
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Supreme Court strikes down federal limits on coordinated party expenditures
The Supreme Court ruled June 30 that limits on coordinated expenditures by political parties violate the First Amendment, changing a major part of federal campaign-finance law ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
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FEC Reports Billions in 2025-26 Campaign Receipts as 2026 Elections Approach
Congressional candidates collected $2.1 billion, political parties received $1.1 billion and PACs raised $6.3 billion during the first 15 months of the federal election cycle.
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Supreme Court strikes down limits on party spending coordinated with federal candidates
The 6-3 ruling removes a longstanding federal restriction on coordinated party spending ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
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Supreme Court strikes down limits on coordinated party spending in federal elections
The Supreme Court ruled June 30 that limits on coordinated spending by national and state party committees violate the First Amendment, changing the campaign-finance landscape before the November 2026 elections.
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Supreme Court strikes down federal limits on coordinated party spending ahead of 2026 midterms
The Supreme Court ruled that federal limits on coordinated spending by political parties and candidates violate the First Amendment. The FEC updated the limits for the 2026 election cycle.
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FEC sets Aug. 20 deadline for PAC and party committees’ monthly reports
Monthly-filing political action committees and party committees must submit reports covering activity through July 31 by Aug. 20, the Federal Election Commission says.
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Supreme Court Strikes Down Limits on Coordinated Party Expenditures in FEC Case
The Supreme Court held June 30 that federal limits on coordinated expenditures by political parties violate the First Amendment, a decision that could reshape campaign spending before the 2026 midterms.
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Anaheim’s November 3 election reaches its final candidate-filing days
Anaheim’s November 3 municipal election reaches its main filing deadline at 5 p.m. Friday, August 7, while the current candidate list remains unofficial and subject to review.
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Wyoming GOP endorses slate but cannot spend party money to favor candidates in primary
The Wyoming GOP endorsed six candidates, but state law restricts party-funded efforts to favor one Republican over another as early voting continues before the Aug. 18 primary.
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Michigan Voters Decide Senate and Governor Nominees in Aug. 4 Primary
Michigan voters are choosing party nominees Tuesday in a high-profile U.S. Senate primary and open gubernatorial contests. Polls close at 8 p.m.; unofficial results will be followed by canvassing before the Nov. 3 general election.
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Colorado officials allege Victor Marx campaign accepted about $78,000 in excess contributions
An open Colorado campaign-finance case alleges Victor Marx’s gubernatorial campaign accepted about $78,000 in excess contributions. A state administrative hearing is scheduled for September 8.
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FEC’s August 20 deadline will reveal the next wave of 2026 campaign money
The FEC’s August 20 deadline will make July fundraising, spending, transfers and qualifying independent expenditures public for monthly filers.
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50 Biggest 2026-Cycle Donors Supplied $1.64 Billion, Analysis Finds
A Washington Post analysis of FEC data found that 50 major donors and donor-linked groups supplied $1.64 billion in reported 2026-cycle contributions.
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Supreme Court removes ceiling on coordinated party spending
The June 30 ruling lets parties spend without the former caps alongside federal candidates, but direct contribution limits and disclosure rules remain.
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Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3 candidates denounce mystery pro-data-center text
An unsolicited text claimed to endorse Talethia Edwards and PJ Perez in Tallahassee’s City Commission Seat 3 race. Both candidates denied the endorsement, while the sender’s identity remains unresolved.