Republican candidates and aligned groups have booked more than $700 million in congressional advertising since the beginning of September, compared with more than $430 million booked by Democrats, according to advertising data tracked by AdImpact.

The Republican advantage is particularly pronounced in Senate races, where GOP candidates and groups account for nearly seven of every 10 newly reserved advertising dollars. Republicans account for slightly less than 60% of new spending in House races.

Texas has attracted the largest surge of Republican spending, with nearly $150 million committed to support Attorney General Ken Paxton in his Senate race against Democrat James Talarico. Republicans have also formed a Texas PAC, which has booked more than $115 million in advertising backing Paxton.

The spending comes as Republicans seek to protect their congressional majorities in races across the country, including contests in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2024.

Ohio and Michigan Senate races have each drawn more than $75 million in new advertising commitments, much of it from Republican-aligned organizations. The spending includes money from a cryptocurrency-backed super PAC, groups aligned with Trump and organizations supporting Republican Senate leaders.

Democrats are also spending heavily, with former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed among those making substantial advertising commitments.

Two Republican-aligned groups, No Going Back PAC and Safety and Affordability PAC, have booked more than $150 million across dozens of races since September. Most of their funding is coming from MAGA Inc., President Trump's primary super PAC.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, credited Trump's political operation with helping maintain the GOP's financial edge.

“Money will not be our problem,” Scott said, citing a recent conversation with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

Republican groups have also shifted money toward races that have become more competitive. The Senate Leadership Fund, for example, moved millions of dollars previously reserved for North Carolina to Kansas as the Kansas Senate contest has tightened.

The large Republican spending advantage does not necessarily translate directly into a similar advantage in advertising reach. Candidates can generally obtain lower television advertising rates than outside groups, allowing campaigns with less money to potentially purchase more advertising.

Democrats have characterized the Republican spending surge as evidence of concern about the political environment, while Republicans argue that their financial resources will help them defend vulnerable seats and capitalize on a favorable Senate map.

With the 2026 elections approaching, the expanding advertising reservations provide an early indication of where both parties see the most competitive congressional contests.