Republicans Biggest Spenders on Primary Electioneering Ads

About $97 million was spent by outside groups on media buys categorized as primary spending for the mid-term elections, according to Sunlight Foundation analysis of Federal Election Commission data.

Of the $95 million in spending where party identification could be determined, Republican-leading groups outspent Democrats $59 million to $36 million. But Democrats were the big spenders on attack ads, which Sunlight suggests is an effort to soften up the candidates for November, so general election-targeted spending classified as primary spending. The top spender on ads and related ad production and ad buyer expenses was the Senate Majority PAC at $13,021,696, with all but about $2 million of that spent on ads opposing Republicans. The US Chamber of Commerce spent $11,580,732 at number two, with almost $10 million of that supporting Republicans, another $762,5000 spent opposing Democrats, and $1 million opposing Republicans. Club for Growth Action was at number three, spending $6,240,774, with $4,678,119 spent opposing Republicans. Democrat groups spent almost $28 million opposing Republicans, while Republican-supporting groups spent only about $2.5 million opposing Democrats.