Senate Races: Out-of-State Donors Drive National Ad Campaigns
Candidates in four key states spent over $15 million on digital ads targeting donors beyond their state lines, shifting focus from local issues to national party narratives.
By Madison Lewis ·
Senate candidates in four competitive states are spending millions to attract donors from outside their home states. This strategy relies heavily on digital platforms that allow candidates to reach a national audience with minimal overhead.
The trend emerged as campaign finance laws evolved and technology made small-dollar fundraising easier. In 2004, Democrats launched ActBlue to harness grassroots donations. Republicans followed suit in 2019 with WinRed. By the 2025-26 cycle, both parties were using these tools to solicit funds from across the country. The platforms reduced the cost of acquiring small contributions, making it profitable to target individual donors in other states.
An analysis of Google Ads in Iowa, Georgia, Ohio, and Texas shows that candidates spent more than $15 million on fundraising-related advertising during the 2025-26 cycle. Approximately 75% of that budget went to ads displayed nationally rather than locally. For some candidates, the majority of their individual contributions came from out of state. In Iowa, Democratic nominee Josh Turek and Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff received more than 80% of their itemized individual donations from outside their respective states.
The messaging in these national ads differs sharply from local television spots. Local ads typically avoid party labels to appeal to swing voters. National digital ads, however, often emphasize party identity and national talking points. Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown encourages voters to turn the state blue. Georgia Representative Mike Collins urges supporters to turn his state red. Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson highlights her America First credentials, while Senator Ossoff attacks President Trump directly.
Experts note that candidates are now managing two distinct audiences. They must appeal to local voters for votes and to a national donor base for funds. Daniel Hopkins, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, explained that candidates compete for attention with other prominent figures from their party when raising money. This dynamic encourages the use of polarizing national issues to secure donations.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has already spent three times as much on advertisements this cycle compared to previous midterms. The Supreme Court's June ruling on coordinated spending further enables this flow of outside funds. While some states like Hawaii plan to cap out-of-state donations in 2027, national regulation remains difficult due to existing court precedents.
Campaigns continue to prioritize this national fundraising strategy. The Ossoff campaign stated it is powered by small-dollar donors and rejects corporate PACs. Other campaigns declined to comment or did not respond to interview requests.
