Super PACs back minor-party Senate candidates in Ohio and other close races

Super PACs are spending money to promote minor-party and independent candidates in close races two days before the midterm election. The hope of the spenders is that those candidates will draw votes away from the major-party nominees. ²³ A super PAC is an outside group that can raise and spend unlimited sums on elections, but it cannot give money directly to a candidate.

Ohio's Senate race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown shows how it works. More than $460 million is being spent on that race, according to WFMJ. RealClearPolling, a poll-averaging site, puts Brown's lead at 3.1 points. ²

On tapeWFMJ · Oct 23

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What the reports show in Ohio

A super PAC called Enough Promises Ohio has paid for mailers and ads for independent Greg Levy and has spent nearly $2 million. The report says another group, Conservative Americans PAC, entirely funds it. Levy calls himself a socialist and has denounced the group. ²

On the other side, WOSU reported that the Ohio Democratic Party and Friends of Sherrod Brown paid for mailers promoting the conservative positions of Libertarian Bill Redpath. The Ohio Democrats declined to comment. ²

From Channel GOPHusted's nine votes against lower health premiumsSherrod Brown · 131 plays · captioned, with the source named

A third group, StarkFreedom PAC, is run by Aaron Day, a former Republican. It has used artificial intelligence to generate advertisements for Libertarian or conservative independent Senate candidates in eight states, including Ohio, and the ads are set to start being pushed out next week. Its website says: "We fund the margin. It costs the GOP the Senate." ²

Another group has drawn scrutiny from Republicans. Principled Patriots PAC backs third-party candidates in Senate races in Iowa, Texas, Alaska, Kansas, Ohio and Michigan, and in House races in Colorado and North Carolina. The GOP warns it is linked to Democrats and that the effort could be a spoiler campaign. That is an accusation, and the report gives no dollar figures. ³

Late disclosure of donors

CNBC found 22 late-forming super PACs that spent about $637 million on congressional races. Both parties use the tactic, but Republican-linked PACs have spent about twice what Democratic-linked PACs have. ¹

One such group, Our Heritage Matters, began spending Oct. 20 to boost third-party candidates and attack Republicans. Its first donor report is not due until Dec. 3, a month after Election Day. ¹

The reason for this is almost entirely to avoid disclosure, even if just temporarily.

They are a vehicle designed to emerge from nowhere and spend a bunch of money on an election.

Tom Sutton, a retired political science professor at Baldwin Wallace University, told WFMJ that third-party candidates can tap voter dissatisfaction but may lose support as the election nears. ²

What happens next

Voters in Ohio and other states choose Tuesday, Nov. 3. Under the current schedule, some of these groups will not have to name their donors until after the votes are counted. ¹

That matters because ballots with extra names can change who wins a close race. The pattern is that both parties appear to be using the tactic, and neither has to explain it before voters decide. This report did not find a response from the national party committees.

The Record

1. Oct 16, 2026Principled Patriots PAC drew scrutiny for backing third-party candidates in competitive Senate and House races ³
2. Oct 20, 2026Super PAC Our Heritage Matters began spending to boost third-party candidates; its first donor report is due Dec. 3 ¹
3. Oct 23, 2026WFMJ reported super PACs backing minor-party candidates in Ohio's Senate race ²
4. Oct 31, 2026CNBC reported 22 late-forming super PACs had spent about $637 million in congressional races ¹

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<h2>Super PACs back minor-party Senate candidates in Ohio and other close races</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Investigations Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/super-pacs-back-minor-party-senate-candidates-in-ohio-and-other-close-races">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>Super PACs are spending money to promote minor-party and independent candidates in close races two days before the midterm election. The hope of the spenders is that those candidates will draw votes away from the major-party nominees. A super PAC is an outside group that can raise and spend unlimited sums on elections, but it cannot give money directly to a candidate.</p> <p>Ohio&#39;s Senate race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown shows how it works. More than $460 million is being spent on that race, according to WFMJ. RealClearPolling, a poll-averaging site, puts Brown&#39;s lead at 3.1 points.</p> <h2>What the reports show in Ohio</h2> <p>A super PAC called Enough Promises Ohio has paid for mailers and ads for independent Greg Levy and has spent nearly $2 million. The report says another group, Conservative Americans PAC, entirely funds it. Levy calls himself a socialist and has denounced the group.</p> <p>On the other side, WOSU reported that the Ohio Democratic Party and Friends of Sherrod Brown paid for mailers promoting the conservative positions of Libertarian Bill Redpath. The Ohio Democrats declined to comment.</p> <p>A third group, StarkFreedom PAC, is run by Aaron Day, a former Republican. It has used artificial intelligence to generate advertisements for Libertarian or conservative independent Senate candidates in eight states, including Ohio, and the ads are set to start being pushed out next week. Its website says: &quot;We fund the margin. It costs the GOP the Senate.&quot;</p> <p>Another group has drawn scrutiny from Republicans. Principled Patriots PAC backs third-party candidates in Senate races in Iowa, Texas, Alaska, Kansas, Ohio and Michigan, and in House races in Colorado and North Carolina. The GOP warns it is linked to Democrats and that the effort could be a spoiler campaign. That is an accusation, and the report gives no dollar figures.</p> <h2>Late disclosure of donors</h2> <p>CNBC found 22 late-forming super PACs that spent about $637 million on congressional races. Both parties use the tactic, but Republican-linked PACs have spent about twice what Democratic-linked PACs have.</p> <p>One such group, Our Heritage Matters, began spending Oct. 20 to boost third-party candidates and attack Republicans. Its first donor report is not due until Dec. 3, a month after Election Day.</p> <blockquote><p>The reason for this is almost entirely to avoid disclosure, even if just temporarily.</p><p>&mdash; Michael Kang, Northwestern University law professor</p></blockquote> <blockquote><p>They are a vehicle designed to emerge from nowhere and spend a bunch of money on an election.</p><p>&mdash; Saurav Ghosh, Campaign Legal Center</p></blockquote> <p>Tom Sutton, a retired political science professor at Baldwin Wallace University, told WFMJ that third-party candidates can tap voter dissatisfaction but may lose support as the election nears.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Voters in Ohio and other states choose Tuesday, Nov. 3. Under the current schedule, some of these groups will not have to name their donors until after the votes are counted.</p> <p>That matters because ballots with extra names can change who wins a close race. The pattern is that both parties appear to be using the tactic, and neither has to explain it before voters decide. This report did not find a response from the national party committees.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/super-pacs-back-minor-party-senate-candidates-in-ohio-and-other-close-races">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/super-pacs-back-minor-party-senate-candidates-in-ohio-and-other-close-races.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. CNBC, “'Pop-up' super PACs pour $637 million into 2026 midterm races” (2026-10-31). cnbc.com/amp/2026/10/31/2026-midterm-election-super-pacs-don
2. WFMJ, “Super PACs pushing for third-party spoilers in Ohio's Senate race” (2026-10-23). wfmj.com/news/ohio-pennsylvania-news/super-pacs-pushing-for-
3. Washington Examiner, “Democrat-aligned group backs spoiler candidates in swing states” (2026-10-16). washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/4769123/

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