Republicans Outspend Democrats on Final-Week Ads as Trump Skips Some Midterm Endorsements
Photo: Washington ExaminerRepublicans outspent Democrats on advertising in the final week of the 2026 midterm campaign, spending $305 million to Democrats' $256 million in competitive Senate, House and governor races, according to reported figures. President Donald Trump has endorsed candidates in most Senate and U.S. House races this year as Republicans try to keep their majorities in both chambers. He has not endorsed several Republicans, including a select number in toss-up or close races. Most of the unendorsed House Republicans are running in deep-blue districts, where they are widely expected to lose on Election Day. In primaries, Trump-endorsed challengers defeated Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. In the general election, Trump's approval rating is 36%, according to an October New York Times/Siena poll.
The left-leaning Washington Post leads with money. Its headline says Republicans are outspending Democrats as the midterms near, and it centers the $305 million versus $256 million comparison across competitive races. Its excerpt does not mention Trump, endorsements or his approval rating. The right-leaning Washington Examiner leads with Trump. Its headline asks who the Republicans running without his endorsement are, and it stresses his primary clout against Massie and Cassidy, his 36% approval and his omission of some close-race candidates. Both outlets focus on the Republican position heading into Election Day, but the Post frames it as a spending advantage, while the Examiner frames it around candidates' relationships with Trump. Alternative and independent outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left- and right-leaning outlets had.
How the sides differ Left sources emphasize Republicans' ad-spending edge; right sources stress Trump's unendorsed candidates. Alternative sources had not covered the story at the time of writing.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
The Washington Post leads with campaign finance, reporting that Republicans spent $305 million to Democrats' $256 million on ads in the final week in competitive Senate, House and governor races.
Not covering this story. None of the alternative or independent outlets Crosswire tracks has reported it yet. What one side leaves out can be as telling as what the others report.
The Washington Examiner leads with Trump's endorsement choices, listing Republicans he has not backed, noting his primary wins over Massie and Cassidy, and citing his 36% approval in a New York Times/Siena poll.