Outside political groups have spent more than $1.2 billion on advertising in competitive congressional races, with independent spending accounting for more than half of all advertising in over 70% of those contests, according to a Washington Post analysis of AdImpact data.
The spending highlights how much of the battle for Congress is being financed by organizations operating independently of the candidates themselves. Super PACs and other outside groups can spend heavily to support candidates or attack their opponents, often shaping the messages voters see in the final weeks before Election Day.
Maine's Senate race is among the contests where outside spending has become especially prominent. The Washington Post found that outside groups accounted for 79% of advertising spending in the race between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson. The Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund was the largest outside spender supporting Collins.
The spending battle extends to New Hampshire, where Republican and Democratic groups are investing heavily in the Senate contest. AdImpact's September analysis found that the Senate Leadership Fund aired approximately $5 million in New Hampshire Senate advertising during the month, while the Trump-aligned No Going Back PAC spent another $5.3 million there.
Maine's 2nd Congressional District is also drawing substantial outside investment as Republican Paul LePage and Democrat Matt Dunlap compete for the seat being vacated by Jared Golden.
Federal campaign finance filings tracked by PaidForPolitics showed approximately $9.17 million in reported independent spending in the Maine 2nd District race through October 11, including primary and general-election spending. Among the largest general-election spenders were House Majority PAC, which opposed LePage, and the Congressional Leadership Fund, which opposed Dunlap.
The money does not go directly to the candidates and cannot legally be coordinated with their campaigns. Nevertheless, the spending can influence which issues dominate advertising and how voters perceive each candidate.
As the November 3 election approaches, the Maine and New Hampshire contests offer a regional look at a national campaign increasingly shaped by outside money.
