Republicans plan to spend $342 million to hold onto the Senate majority in November as Democrats eye the turbulent economy and war in Iran to boost their chances of a takeover.
The Senate Leadership Fund, the top super PAC for the GOP, unveiled plans this week to spend the money defending five seats and flipping three seats.
The PAC described the spending as “unprecedented” and its “largest investment ever,” and said the organization is confident the GOP will hold onto the majority. The GOP currently controls 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats.
“SLF will efficiently deploy resources and build full-scale campaigns to protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority,” officials said in announcing the plan.
Republicans are facing a Democratic Party that is increasingly optimistic about a “blue wave” in November, thanks to declining approval ratings for President Trump and dissatisfaction with the economy.
Democratic Senate candidates have outraised many of their GOP opponents in Ohio, New Hampshire and other battleground races, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission earlier this year. The Senate Leadership Fund’s spending is intended to help make up the difference.
The GOP’s top Senate spending target is Ohio, where it will shell out $79 million on the November special election to defend the seat vacated in 2025 by Vice President J.D. Vance.
The seat is currently held by Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the position until the special election.
The race is shaping up to be among the most expensive contests of the midterms. Mr. Husted will likely face off against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who held the seat from 2007 until he lost in 2024.
A new Quantus Insights poll shows Mr. Husted just 2 points ahead of Mr. Brown.
The SLF announced it will spend $71 million to hang on to the Senate seat in North Carolina currently held by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, and $45 million in Michigan, where former FBI Director Mike Rogers, a Republican, is running to flip the seat held by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who isn’t running again.
In Georgia, Republicans are vying to defeat Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is running for a second term. The Senate Leadership Fund plans to spend $44 million there where Republican Doug Collins is leading by double digits in GOP primary polls.
Republicans will spend $42 million helping Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins win a sixth term in Maine. Polls show Ms. Collins trailing one of her Democratic challengers, oyster farmer Graham Platner, but beating Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. The two Democrats face off in a June 9 primary.
Senate races in Alaska, Iowa and New Hampshire are also on the Senate Leadership Fund’s target list. The SLF plans to spend $15 million helping Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan hold onto his seat in Alaska and will spend $29 million in Iowa to help Republicans keep the seat left open by GOP Sen. Joni Ernst’s retirement.
In New Hampshire, primary polls show Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is likely to face off against former Republican Gov. John Sununu in the race to fill the seat left open by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement.
Polls show a tight race. The SLF plans to spend $17 million to flip the seat.
The SLF funding will be spent on broadcast, cable and internet advertising, direct mail, text messaging and get-out-the-vote activities.
