Pro-Israel groups, cryptocurrency PACs, and AI-aligned donors have poured unprecedented sums into U.S. House primaries this cycle, with eight of the 12 largest outside spenders tied to these sectors, according to an Axios analysis of Federal Election Commission data. The flood of money has already helped oust longtime incumbents and is reshaping the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Protect Progress, the Democratic arm of the crypto super PAC Fairshake, leads all outside spenders with $15.8 million deployed across nearly a dozen Democratic primaries. The United Democracy Project, an AIPAC-affiliated group, has spent $11.6 million, including nearly $8 million to defeat Republican Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th District — the most expensive House primary in American history. In Texas' 18th District, Protect Progress poured nearly $5 million to unseat longtime Rep. Al Green in favor of freshman Rep. Christian Menefee.
The partisan dynamics are complex. While crypto and AI groups have primarily targeted Democrats, pro-Israel spending has cut across both parties. AIPAC's involvement has become a flashpoint in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, where candidate Abdul El-Sayed used a debate to differentiate himself from opponents Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens on the issue of outside spending and antisemitism.
Public opinion on such spending remains sharply divided. Polling consistently shows broad voter distrust of super PACs and dark money, but the groups involved argue they are simply exercising free speech and holding incumbents accountable. The sheer volume of spending, however, has made it difficult for many candidates to compete without aligning with one of these deep-pocketed blocs.
Analysts note that this cycle's spending marks a structural shift in campaign finance, with industry-specific PACs achieving more influence than traditional party committees. If current trends hold, the 2026 primaries may permanently alter how congressional candidates fundraise and position themselves on issues like AI regulation, cryptocurrency policy, and U.S. support for Israel.