Republican super PACs tied to Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Koch network spent about $14 million in Ohio over one week to aid Jon Husted as polls show him trailing Sherrod Brown. AdImpact estimates roughly $298 million has been spent on the race so far, with No Going Back PAC leading the recent blitz with $6.7 million. "Pop-up" PACs that may delay donor disclosures also funneled more than $3 million into Ohio advertising. Brown has outraised Husted $38.6M to $14.3M and leads by about 3–5 points in recent polls.
Trump-Linked 'Pop-Up' PACs Flood Ohio With $14M Ad Blitz Targeting Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) speaks to a reporter before a weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Republican-aligned super PACs poured roughly $14 million into Ohio advertising over a single week to boost Senator Jon Husted as recent polls show him trailing Democrat Sherrod Brown in a high-stakes contest that could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
Ad Surge Driven by Major Donors and New 'Pop-Up' PACs
The spending spike is led by super PACs tied to former President Donald Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, the Koch network and Senate Republican leadership ahead of the Nov. 3 special election. The winner will serve the remaining two years of the seat vacated when JD Vance became vice president in 2025.
Political ad tracker AdImpact estimates the Husted–Brown matchup has drawn roughly $298 million in advertising to date — more than any other Senate race this cycle — and it may become the costliest ad battle of the 2026 midterms.
Key Spending Details
No Going Back PAC, affiliated with Trump’s MAGA Inc. network, led the weeklong push with $6.7 million in television, digital and mail ads run Sept. 10–11, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. AdImpact says the group has spent more than $92 million on midterm advertising overall, including about $13.4 million in Ohio.
Other major Republican-aligned spenders include Musk's America PAC, Americans for Prosperity Action (backed by the Koch network) and the Senate Leadership Fund. These groups have targeted Brown on positions tied to transgender rights, bank bailouts and ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, among other issues.
Funding, Polls and Disclosure Concerns
FEC records show Brown, who served three terms in the U.S. Senate through 2025, has outraised Husted by a wide margin: $38.6 million to $14.3 million. Despite an early lead for Husted, recent polls show him trailing Brown by about 3–5 percentage points.
Some new spenders are so-called "pop-up" PACs that, because of recent registration dates, may not have to disclose donors until mid-October. OpenSecrets research director Brendan Glavin described these groups as able to delay transparency. Two such outfits — Ohio Flyer PAC and Buckeyes PAC — spent more than $3 million combined over the past week; both share a treasurer with a pro-Trump super PAC tied to the 2016 campaign founded by then-campaign manager Paul Manafort and donor Tom Barrack.
"It’s no surprise that giant corporations and billionaires are spending tens of millions of dollars to save Jon Husted’s flailing campaign," said Patrick Eisenhauer, campaign manager for Sherrod Brown.
Context
The 2024 Senate race between Sherrod Brown and Republican Bernie Moreno set a non-presidential contest record for ad spending at $486 million, according to AdImpact — underscoring how costly Ohio contests have become. With both parties viewing the seat as pivotal, expect continued heavy spending and intensified messaging through Election Day.
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