President Donald Trump has largely gotten the Republican Senate candidates he wanted for the 2026 midterms, but a central question remains whether his political operation will spend heavily to help them in November. MAGA Inc., the super PAC tied to Trump, held $382 million as of last month, yet its plans for key Senate races remain unclear even as Republican leaders press for support in competitive contests, especially in Texas and North Carolina.
The pressure is most acute in Texas, where Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary. Some Republicans argue that decision transformed what had been viewed as a safer seat into a far more expensive race, with Democratic nominee James Talarico making Paxton’s history of corruption allegations a major campaign issue. In North Carolina, Trump supported Michael Whatley after Sen. Thom Tillis chose not to seek reelection following clashes with the president over healthcare spending. Democrats are targeting that seat with former Gov. Roy Cooper, adding to expectations among some Republican operatives that Trump-aligned money will be needed in a state with costly media markets.
Trump’s allies have signaled support without detailing spending commitments. James Blair, the former White House political director now coordinating the president’s midterm efforts, said Trump would devote substantial resources to winning the midterms because he cares deeply about the party’s success. Trump’s fundraising machine gives him unusual capacity to influence the map: despite being barred from seeking another term, he began raising money soon after winning a second term and has continued to build MAGA Inc. through high-dollar events. As a super PAC, MAGA Inc. can raise unlimited sums from individuals and corporations, though it cannot coordinate directly with campaigns or national party committees.
That uncertainty has fueled frustration among some Republicans, who say Trump’s endorsements created obligations for the broader party. Cornyn has publicly suggested Trump should spend his own money after backing Paxton, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans will do what is necessary to keep Texas in GOP hands but hopes the president’s resources will be engaged. Some Republicans contend the Texas race alone could require an additional $100 million to defend. Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC aligned with Thune, has already committed hundreds of millions of dollars across several battlegrounds, including Alaska, Maine, North Carolina and Ohio, where Democrats see their best pickup opportunities as they seek the four seats needed to retake the Senate majority.