From PolitiFact · Caleb McCullough · · 4m
Three billion dollars in Senate ads, most of them false
Political groups spent record sums on misleading claims about healthcare, transgender policy and crime in the five priciest 2026 Senate races.
In brief
Political groups spent record sums on misleading claims about healthcare, transgender policy and crime in the five priciest 2026 Senate races. Candidates and outside groups spent over seven billion dollars on midterm ads by October twenty-fifth, with nearly two billion from Super PACs, flooding voters with false and…
Record spending floods Senate races
Political candidates and outside groups spent more than seven billion dollars on midterm advertising by October twenty-fifth, with two point nine billion going toward U.S. Senate campaigns alone.
Super PACs dominate the spending
Nearly two billion dollars came from outside groups. Super PACs like the Republican Senate Leadership Fund and Democratic Senate Majority PAC can raise and spend unlimited sums to influence elections.
Ads are full of false claims
That spending reaches voters through ads on TV, streaming services and digital platforms with misleading and, at times, outlandish claims. PolitiFact has fact-checked ads about transgender youth policy, healthcare, immigration and Jeffrey Epstein.
Democrats and Republicans target different issues
Democrats focused ads on the cost of living, Medicaid cuts, expiring healthcare subsidies, and corruption. Republican ads generally concentrated on taxes, anti-transgender talking points, and crime.
Texas: most expensive race in history
With combined ad spending at five hundred seventy-three million dollars, the Texas U.S. Senate race became the most expensive non-presidential contest in history, according to AdImpact.
Texas: Democrats spend directly, Republicans use PACs
From September eighth to October twenty-fifth, Democratic state Rep.James Talarico spent fifty-four million dollars on ads while state Attorney General Ken Paxton spent about four million.Outside groups spent two hundred twenty-six million, overwhelmingly pro-Paxton.
Texas: Talarico attacks Paxton's record
Talarico's ads painted Paxton as corrupt, highlighting legal and political scandals including his impeachment by the Republican-led Texas House. Paxton was acquitted by the Republican-led state Senate.
Texas: Paxton ads use false transgender claims
Pro-Paxton ads portrayed Talarico as too woke for Texas. Several misleading spots tied Talarico to transgender issues, including an ad that falsely said he supported using taxpayer dollars for sex change surgeries on young children.
“supported using taxpayer dollars for sex change surgeries on young children”
Texas: AI used to create false Talarico videos
Some ads used artificial intelligence to portray Talarico doing and saying things he never did.
“a giant welcome mat out front”
Ohio: four hundred forty-eight million in ad spending
Ohio's Senate race between Democratic former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Husted had four hundred forty-eight million dollars in ad spending as of October twenty-fifth.
Ohio: Brown attacks Husted on healthcare and jobs
Between September eighth and October twenty-fifth, Brown spent twenty-five million dollars on advertising while Husted spent about five million. Outside groups spent two hundred forty-five million on both sides.
Ohio: Husted ads falsely attack Brown on transgender surgery
Ads targeting Brown focused heavily on transgender issues.One said Brown supports sex change surgeries for minors, which PolitiFact rated Pants on Fire.
“sex change surgeries for minors”
Michigan: El-Sayed and Rogers trade negative attacks
Between September eighth and October twenty-fifth, Democratic public health official Abdul El-Sayed spent twenty-one million dollars on ads and Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers spent five million. Outside groups spent one hundred twenty-five million.
Michigan: Republican groups falsely tie El-Sayed to Islamic law
Outside Republican groups ran ads arguing El-Sayed is funded by or aligned with extremist groups.
“introduce shariah”
Maine: Jackson ad falsely claims hitting female colleague
After sexual assault allegations sunk Democrat Graham Platner's candidacy, an ad said his replacement, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, had a problematic record with women. The ad falsely claimed Jackson hit a female colleague.
Iowa: Democrats attack Hinson's finances misleadingly
The Iowa Senate contest between Republican U.S.Rep.Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep.Josh Turek drew two hundred twelve million dollars in ad spending.
Iowa: Hinson falsely claims Turek supports sex changes for kids
After Turek won the Democratic primary in June, Hinson released an ad that said Turek supports sex changes for kids.PolitiFact rated that claim False.
“sex changes for kids”
The key point
Candidates and outside groups spent over seven billion dollars on midterm ads by October twenty-fifth, with nearly two billion from Super PACs, flooding voters with false and distorted claims about transgender youth, healthcare, immigration and corruption.
