Democratic and Republican Senate candidates in key competitive races have spent more than $15 million on advertising related to fundraising during the 2025-26 election cycle, with approximately three-quarters of that money directed toward ads running nationally rather than locally. An analysis by NPR of Google Ads for Senate races in Iowa, Georgia, Ohio, and Texas found that candidates are increasingly relying on out-of-state donations, using distinct messaging strategies for local voters versus national donors.
The shift has resulted in a dual-track communication strategy where candidates emphasize party labels and national issues, such as support for or opposition to President Donald Trump, in their digital appeals to out-of-state donors. This contrasts with traditional local television advertising, which often downplays party identification to appeal to moderates and swing voters. The trend is driven by low-cost digital platforms like ActBlue and WinRed, which have reduced the transaction costs of small-dollar fundraising.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic campaigns, including that of Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, argue that their reliance on small-dollar donations reflects a commitment to refusing corporate PAC money and federal lobbyists. The Ossoff campaign stated that it does not target audiences by location but is powered by grassroots supporters. Democratic candidates in states like Ohio, such as former Sen. Sherrod Brown, have used national messaging to mobilize a diverse coalition of donors who may not have a vote in the state but wish to influence the balance of power in the Senate.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican candidates have similarly leveraged national platforms to build war chests, with Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson highlighting her "America First" credentials in ads aimed at a national audience. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has increased its advertising spending threefold compared to the previous midterm cycle, aided by a Supreme Court ruling in June that favored coordinated campaign spending. Republican operatives note that the party has caught up to Democrats in small-dollar fundraising, particularly after recognizing the potential of a national audience of small donors during the Trump era.
What the Numbers Show
Data from OpenSecrets indicates that the amount of out-of-state funds for congressional campaigns has risen in each election cycle. In the races analyzed, more than 80% of itemized individual contributions for Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff and Iowa Democratic nominee Josh Turek came from out of state. The fundraising infrastructure differs by party: ActBlue, the Democratic platform, launched in 2004, while the Republican equivalent, WinRed, was established in 2019. Despite the high fundraising totals, historical data suggests that candidates who heavily rely on out-of-state funds, such as Amy McGrath and Beto O'Rourke, have not consistently translated financial advantages into electoral victories.
The Bottom Line
The growing reliance on out-of-state donors has prompted experts to warn that candidates may be neglecting local constituency issues in favor of nationalized talking points. While some states like Hawaii are implementing caps on out-of-state donations starting in 2027, and others like Alaska require top donor disclosures, federal regulation remains difficult due to Supreme Court precedents on campaign spending. Political scientists suggest that mechanisms like public fund matching for local donations could help reorient campaigns toward state-specific concerns, but the current trend indicates a continued divergence between donor priorities and voter realities.