The GOP’s midterm advantage | America, Actually
The Republican Party is entering the midterm home stretch with a staggering $1 billion campaign war chest — nearly double that of comparable Democratic groups. But with President Donald Trump’s approval ratings falling and voters feeling the hit to their wallets, can cash counter a blue wave?
New York Times national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher joins Vox’s Astead Herndon to break down the GOP’s massive financial edge. Plus, why Republicans are spending millions of dollars to defend deep-red states like Kansas and South Carolina, how small-dollar Democratic donors are reshaping races in Texas, and whether the GOP’s small-donor model can survive in a post-Trump era.
00:00 Can GOP cash stop a blue wave?
02:21 The GOP’s historic fundraising edge
04:50 Who’s bankrolling Trump and Republicans?
08:25 What GOP spending reveals about the Senate map
11:20 Why the GOP’s 2024 ad strategy may not land in 2026
14:51 How campaigns spend to reach voters
17:51 Why Dem governor races struggle to attract money
24:18 How donors shape the AI debate
26:17 What role will AIPAC play in November?
28:49 Who can raise money after Trump?
30:38 Takeaways
America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.
If you enjoy our reporting and want to learn more, sign up for Astead’s weekly newsletter, Midterms, Actually. Just go to www.vox.com/midtermsactually to learn more, and get in-depth analysis about this year’s election right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what’s really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H
@digiGuardHQ
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
A massive financial advantage creates diminishing returns when spent through super PACs paying peak media rates to defend historically safe seats like Texas and Kansas instead of expanding the map.
@carolnelms1821
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
All of those old outdated GOP men will receive their day like everyone else. Money can’t buy good health, love and life itself. One thing about it I’ve never seen a Brinks Truck following a casket to the graveyard. 🪦 Everybody is going to pay that dirt bill, sooner or later. 😇🙏🏼😇🩸🫶🏼🩸🤔
@UsernameAnon-s7l
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Imagine Ken Paxton wins and becomes known as the Senator from Elon.
@vinyl4848
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Please ignore television ads… Add Oligard lovers!
@ffugooglesuxdk9792
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
bro anyone still watching vox needs a lobotomy
@wer4JESUS
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
TDS WILL NOT FIX THE USA
@20CentMan
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
The number one problem is election funds buying candidates going in & reelection
So single term limits and election funds all come from one place
We don’t have a choice
Washington is filled with career politicians not PUBLIC SERVANTS
R we brave enough to change ?.
@Robbertpatterson
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Relationship investigation of Jack Smith😮 and to the January 6th Resurrection😮
@Robbertpatterson
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
😅 well we know we ain't getting no🎉 Apex money😅😅
@ericnonya3650
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
😅
@FanTrombone
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
How can you film me, sell that film to others for money and not pay me?
@azralia4265
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
All those BILLIONS were spent in Russian Bot Data Centers for electoral interference. It got Trump reelected so the Republicans are pouring $$$ into those russian businesses. Thats why Trump's high level officers visited Russia just recently.
Not a coincidence
@innerviews897
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Blue tsunami drowns the clown
@EllenGarner-r5x
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Trump's going to break America .
@carseye1219
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
While money certainly helps, is it as much of an advantage as it once was? Gone are the days when a TV commercial had as much impact. A lot of people don't even watch TV. I, for one, don't even bother to watch ads for candidates I like. I mute or flip to another channel. Younger voters are on social media.
@tdbc614
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Democrats shut down refineries. Ukraine had a chance to split diesel profits with Russia but is funded by KING Charles UK so he'd rather bomb refineries. Who created this situation? The democrats. Open US refineries. If we had democrats in power things would be continuing to get worse. Just look at France.
@emeraldforcier14
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
The American votes have always been for sale. That’s why Elon has crawled out of his hole for the midterms.
@ta4504
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
They are putting American billionaires above all else and we got hillybillies all across the US voting for Trump and Republicans 😂 This nation is actually fcked for average people and it'll take decades to recover.
@IwanHandyTipsTricksChenPounJoe
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Which party has the best policies wil win
@IwanHandyTipsTricksChenPounJoe
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
is all aboad policies
@TC-db6yp
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Everywhere i look should tie democrats to fraud, where are the afds
@RichardMaier-i5w
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
GOD BLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AMEN
@GataPolitica
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
:42 we don’t participate in polls….2016 is calling…Hillary Clinton is your President 😂😂.
@axeblue
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Democratic Party is anti Democracy. Wake up!
@msmntz
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
30:21 the only small dollar republican I can think of is Massi and his small dollar donations couldn’t outdo the big money donations. Also GOP citizens are gullable fools and will vote against their best interest every single time .
@stangrommet2639
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Poor liberals, you are a joke, Trump at his all-time high you’ll see it after elections🤣
@rohitshinde865
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
So total 1.5 billion for this election. Why don’t give this money and built houses to homeless people.
@eileene.5870
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Didn't Michael Bloomberg spend like a bajillion dollars and only got a few dozen votes? It's not just money anymore, it's rage and the demand for change. Unfortunately, Democrats are also against change because they still want their sweet sweet donation money. But blue is definitely better than red right now and the last…60 years
@duncanidaho9153
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Musk is well past 250 million this election.
@PaintSpec
October 19, 2026 at 8:22 pm
As a disgruntled rep I appreciate this conversation. I do support businesses and free market capitalism but I'll say this I won't support a Republican that doesn't make it their goal to help eliminate the deficit. Btw money isn't coming into the democratic candidates because businesses and PACS don't see them as a friend or "good for business" as of late with the socialist environment throughout the democrats.