Republican Party has pumped $888 million into advertising for 39 House races that had previously been considered safe, surpassing the $666 million spent by Democrats, according to AdImpact. The move follows a Reuters review that found major Republican groups and megadonors began spending in at least 39 races since September 1.
Republican‑leaning super PACs have outspent Democrats nearly twice, with $309.7 million compared with $174.2 million since Labor Day, FEC data shows.
Despite many of the districts remaining Republican strongholds—candidates still leading in polls and several having backed Donald Trump by double‑digit margins in 2024—party strategists warn that internal polling shows they cannot assume victory.
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said the spending is defensive, adding that voters could use the November 3 election to register dissatisfaction with Trump. Natalie Baldassarre declared the war chest will drive voters to the polls, while Kevin Madden noted the headwinds require a stronger case.
In Wisconsin, Republican Bryan Steil’s district backed Trump by 4.5 points in 2024; conservative super PACs invested $1.5 million into his race this month, their first spend in the cycle. In Texas, Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s district, which Trump won by 18 points, has seen about $2 million spent by Republican groups since September 5, prompting Cook Political Report to move the race from lean Republican to tossup.
Across the cycle, independent committees have spent more than $1.56 billion on federal elections, according to Reuters analysis. The added money aims to protect the party’s 218‑214 House majority, with Democrats needing four seats to flip control before the November 3 election.