Tracking the money: The biggest donors in the 2026 US midterm elections
The 50 biggest contributors have poured $2.77bn into the race, led by Elon Musk's $446m for Republican-aligned groups.
The 2026 US midterms are on track to be the most expensive in the country’s history. Spending on political advertising alone is projected to reach $11.6bn, more than in any previous election cycle, including the 2024 presidential race, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
Much of that money comes from wealthy donors, political nonprofits and businesses seeking to shape Washington’s priorities, and some of it passes through networks of organisations before it is spent.
In this visual explainer, Al Jazeera uses Federal Election Commission data to trace the billionaires, financiers and companies behind the largest contributions ahead of the November 3 vote.
But Lawrence Lessig, a professor of law and leadership at Harvard Law School and a campaign finance reform advocate, argues that the money is hidden only from voters.