Several GOP candidates ran shell campaigns buoyed by dark money
Republicans have dark money to thank for majority in House
Outside money, particularly dark money, was one of the biggest factors that secured victories for MAGA Republicans in some of the most competitive seats during the 2022 cycle. A record $2.2 billion in dark money was spent this cycle, up from $499 million in 2010. It is a large part of why Republicans won their slim House majority.
Super PACs supporting Republicans outspent super PACs supporting Democrats by a 2-1 margin, $810 million to $421 million. Republicans had an overall outside spending advantage of more than $300 million. About three quarters of outside spending is not fully disclosed.
In key races across the country, Democratic candidates outraised, outhustled, and out-campaigned their Republican opponents, who in many cases were MAGA extremists running weak shell campaigns. Despite their extremism, including support for overturning elections and political violence, for banning abortion, and for eliminating Social Security, they were bailed out by radical dark money groups and their wealthy corporate and billionaire allies.
Many races were artificially competitive due to dark money support for fringe candidates like Blake Masters in Arizona ($60 million), Don Boulduc in New Hampshire ($25 million), and Yelsi Vega in VA-07 ($11 million).
In other races, Republican dark money was insurmountable.
North Carolina Senate race:
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In the 2022 cycle, Cheri Beasley (D) outraised Ted Budd (R) by $21 million, but outside spending gave Budd a $47 million spending advantage.
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Beasley raised $33 million, much of it from grassroots contributions, while Budd raised $12 million.
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Outside groups spent $70 million in support of Budd, while $23 million was spent in support of Beasley.
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The Senate Leadership Fund, a right-wing super PAC funded by dark money, spent $38 million in this race.
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Budd won by a narrow 3.2% margin.
Wisconsin Senate race:
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In the 2022 cycle, Mandela Barnes (D) outraised Ron Johnson (R) by $3 million but outside spending gave Johnson a $26 million spending advantage.
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Outside groups spent $76 million in support of Johnson, while $50 million was spent in support of Barnes.
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The Senate Leadership Fund, a right-wing super PAC funded by dark money, spent $26 million in this race.
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Johnson narrowly beat Barnes by a 1% margin.
Ohio Senate race:
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In the 2022 cycle, Tim Ryan (D) outraised J.D. Vance (R) by $35 million, but outside spending gave Vance a $26 million spending advantage.
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Ryan raised $47 million, much of it from grassroots contributions, while Vance raised $12 million.
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Outside groups spent $51 million in support of Vance, while $25 million was spent in support of Ryan.
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The Senate Leadership Fund, a right-wing super PAC funded by dark money, spent $32 million in this race.
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Vance won by a 6.6% margin over Ryan.
Oregon’s 5th District:
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In the 2022 cycle, Jaime McLeod-Skinner (D) outraised Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R) by $1 million but outside spending gave Chavez-DeRemer a nearly $6 million advantage.
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McLeod-Skinner raised $3.2 million for her campaign while Chavez-DeRemer raised $2.2 million.
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Outside groups spent $8.8 million in support of Chavez-DeRemer, while $3 million was spent in support of McLeod-Skinner.
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The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Republicans and funded by dark money, spent $6.8 million in this race.
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Chavez-DeRemer won with a margin of just 1%.
Arizona’s 6th District
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In the 2022 cycle, Kirsten Engel (D) raised just $800,000 less than Juan Ciscomani (R), but outside spending gave Ciscomani a $6.5 million advantage.
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Outside groups spent $6.7 Million supporting Ciscomani and opposing Engel, while only $167,000 was spent supporting Engel and opposing Ciscomani.
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The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Republicans and funded by dark money, spent $3.6 million in this race.
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Ciscomani narrowly beat Engel with a margin of just 1.4%.
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