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There are, of course, notable exceptions, especially in the Trump era.
In 2016, Hillary Clinton and allies raised over $1.2 billion, roughly twice Trump’s $600 million, yet he prevailed. More recently, Trump-endorsed Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in the 2026 Texas Senate primary runoff despite being outspent about 10-to-1 on ads (Cornyn allies spent at least $92 million of the roughly $128 million total).
While money does not guarantee victory in every contest — presidential races have occasionally gone to lower spenders — the correlation remains strong in House and Senate battles where television, digital ads and field operations shape outcomes.
Voters’ top concerns heading into the elections center on the economy and cost of living. A Pew Research Center survey in July found that 29% of registered voters most wanted congressional candidates to discuss economic issues, including affordability, far ahead of immigration at 7% and health care at 5%.
A Marquette Law School Poll similarly ranked inflation and the cost of living as the most important issue for 35% of respondents, followed by the broader economy. Recent polls show Democrats holding a modest edge on the generic congressional ballot, ranging from 4 to 8 points in surveys from Economist/YouGov, Reuters/Ipsos and CNN/SSRS, even as Republicans maintain advantages on crime and immigration.
Tuesday's primaries in five states
Tuesday’s primaries in Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington set several key general election matchups.
In Michigan’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary, progressive former public health official Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, advancing to face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November.
Kentucky's Republican Rep. John James won the GOP nomination for Michigan governor, while Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson secured her party’s nod.
In Kansas, Trump-endorsed state Senate President Ty Masterson captured the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Progressive candidates also notched House primary wins in Michigan battlegrounds.
The cash imbalance leaves Democrats facing steeper challenges in advertising and voter outreach as both parties prepare for a high-stakes fight over the House and Senate majorities. Republicans enter the final stretch with deeper reserves to defend their majorities, while Democrats lean on individual candidate fundraising and voter enthusiasm to close the gap.
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/cash-king-republicans-bankroll-midterms-democrat-coffers-are-red