The 2026 US midterm elections are projected to become the costliest in history, with political advertising expenditures expected to hit $11.6 billion. Data from the Federal Election Commission reveals that the top 50 donors have contributed nearly $2.8 billion, with Republican-affiliated entities outspending Democratic ones by a significant margin. Much of this capital flows through super PACs, which are permitted to accept unlimited donations, or via nonprofit groups that obscure the identities of original contributors, a phenomenon often described as dark money. While individual candidates face strict donation limits, wealthy financiers and corporations exert substantial influence through these independent vehicles. Experts highlight that this concentration of financial power among a few elite donors poses a significant challenge to democratic representation, as politicians remain fully aware of their major benefactors despite the lack of public transparency.
Source : Al Jazeera English
