Four main super PACs focused on control of Congress have raised nearly $120 million from allied dark money groups this election cycle

The four main super PACs focused on helping Democrats and Republicans win House and Senate elections raised a combined $119 million from their affiliated dark money groups between January 2025 and March 2026, according to an Issue One analysis of recently filed campaign finance reports.

That includes nearly $48 million during the first quarter of 2026, and represents roughly 24% of the total $492 million these four super PACs have combined to raise between January 2025 and March 2026.

“When super PACs accept massive dark money contributions, it undercuts the principles of transparency that serve as the bedrock of our anti-corruption laws,” said Issue One Director of Money in Politics Reform Michael Beckel. “Without transparency, there’s no accountability. Voters across the country and across the ideological spectrum lose when they’re kept in the dark about the wealthy donors and special interests using huge sums of dark money to buy access and influence with politicians.”

Beckel continued: “The U.S. Supreme Court’s majority opinion in Citizens United envisioned a world in which disclosure rules enabled citizens to make informed decisions about the political ads they see and the funders of those ads. Yet the reality of political advertising today makes a mockery of the Court’s assumptions. It’s long past time for Republicans and Democrats to work together to usher in reforms to end secret spending in our elections.”

In March, the Democratic-aligned, Senate-focused Senate Majority PAC super PAC (which also goes by the acronym SMP) received an infusion of $25 million from its affiliated dark money group, known as Majority Forward.

This contribution accounted for 44% of the $56 million Senate Majority PAC raised during the first quarter of 2026. Money from anonymous donors flowing through Majority Forward now accounts for 29% of the total $116 million Senate Majority PAC has raised since January 2025.

Meanwhile, the Republican-aligned, Senate-focused Senate Leadership Fund super PAC (which also goes by the acronym SLF PAC) collected $11.18 million in March from its affiliated dark money group, known as One Nation.

This contribution accounted for 16% of the $72 million the Senate Leadership Fund raised during the first quarter of 2026. Money from anonymous donors flowing through One Nation now accounts for 26% of the total $175 million the Senate Leadership Fund has raised since January 2025.

All the while, the Republican-aligned, House-focused Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC received $7.5 million in March from its affiliated dark money group, known as the American Action Network.

This contribution accounted for 20% of the $38 million the Congressional Leadership Fund raised during the first quarter of 2026. Money from anonymous donors flowing through the American Action Network now accounts for 22% of the total $110 million the Congressional Leadership Fund has raised since January 2025.

Lastly, the Democratic-aligned, House-focused House Majority PAC super PAC (which also goes by the acronym HMP) collected $4 million in March from its affiliated dark money group, known as House Majority Forward.

This contribution accounted for 19% of the $21 million House Majority PAC raised during the first quarter of 2026. Money from anonymous donors flowing through House Majority Forward now accounts for 17% of the total $91 million House Majority PAC has raised since January 2025.

As Election Day 2026 nears, these percentages are likely to change, as super PACs can raise unlimited amounts of money from a variety of sources. During the 2023-2024 election cycle, each of these four super PACs raised about $1 of every $5 of their respective funds from their affiliated dark money groups.