Senate Majority PAC (Senate Democratic leadership) spent $230M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 42% ended up on the winning side ($96M won, $134M lost).
Outside spending
$230M
On the winning side
42%
$96M
On the losing side
$134M
Supporting vs attacking
6% / 94%
$15M for, $215M against
Google says Senate Majority PAC also spent $81K on Google and YouTube ads this cycle (0% of its FEC-reported outside spending). All ad buyers →
Follow the money
Who filled the envelope
Senate Majority PAC reported $260M in gifts from people, companies, nonprofits and other PACs. The biggest are below.
- Majority ForwardDark money$51M (20%)
- Duty and HonorCompany / nonprofit$16M (6%)
- James SimonsIndividual$9.5M (4%)
- Greater New York Hospital Association Management CorporationCompany / nonprofit$8.0M (3%)
- Fred EychanerIndividual$5.0M (2%)
- Jeff SkollIndividual$4.5M (2%)
- Working for Working AmericansAnother PAC$4.0M (2%)
- Deborah SimonIndividual$3.5M (1%)
- Dustin MoskovitzIndividual$3.5M (1%)
- George MarcusIndividual$3.5M (1%)
Where the money went
Biggest targets, with whether each one paid off.
✓ Backed the winner or attacked the loser ✗ Backed the loser or attacked the winner Result not matched
| Candidate | Race | Spending | Amount | Paid off? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thom Tilllis | North Carolina Senate | Attacking | $34M | ✗ No |
| Joni Ernst | Iowa Senate | Attacking | $34M | ✗ No |
| David A. Perdue | Georgia Senate | Attacking | $31M | ✓ Yes |
| John James | Michigan Senate | Attacking | $29M | ✓ Yes |
| Susan Margaret Collins | Maine Senate | Attacking | $25M | ✗ No |
| Steve Daines | Montana Senate | Attacking | $16M | ✗ No |
| Martha McSally | Arizona Senate | Attacking | $15M | ✓ Yes |
| John Cornyn | Texas Senate | Attacking | $8.6M | ✗ No |
| Cory Gardner | Colorado Senate | Attacking | $7.1M | ✓ Yes |
| Theresa Greenfield | Iowa Senate (primary) | Supporting | $7.0M | ✓ Yes |
| John James | Michigan Senate (primary) | Attacking | $5.2M | ✗ No |
| Lindsey Graham | South Carolina Senate | Attacking | $5.0M | ✗ No |
Questions people ask
- How much did Senate Majority PAC spend in 2020, and did it win?
- Senate Majority PAC (Senate Democratic leadership) spent $230M on independent expenditures in the 2020 federal elections, and 100% of it helped Democrats (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Counting dollars, not candidates, and only races already called, 42% ended up on the winning side ($96M won, $134M lost).
- Who funds Senate Majority PAC?
- Its biggest reported donors in the 2020 cycle were Majority Forward ($51M), Duty and Honor ($16M), James Simons ($9.5M), Greater New York Hospital Association Management Corporation ($8.0M), Fred Eychaner ($5.0M), out of $260M received from donors tracked here.
- Which candidates did Senate Majority PAC spend the most on in 2020?
- against Thom Tilllis (North Carolina Senate, $34M, lost); against Joni Ernst (Iowa Senate, $34M, lost); against David A. Perdue (Georgia Senate, $31M, won).