Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, speaks during an event about the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With Republican control of the U.S. Senate in jeopardy in the 2026 midterm elections, the party’s leading super PAC announced an aggressive spending plan for key Senate races, including $124 million for Ohio and Michigan.

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) is the largest outside spending group dedicated to electing and expanding a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate. On Monday, the PAC outlined a $342 million spending plan across eight races in the 2026 midterms.

Ohio

The Ohio race will see the largest apportionment ($79 million) of the PAC’s TV and streaming ad spending this year as Republicans try to elect U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in a special election to fill the remaining two years of JD Vance’s Senate term. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) appointed Husted, who was his lieutenant governor at the time, to fill Vance’s seat after he became the Vice President of the United States.

Husted is attempting to win amidst numerous controversies plaguing his campaign, including his connections to Ohio’s largest bribery scandal and his previous financial support from Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Lesley “Les” Wexner.

Husted will likely face former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in November, who lost his Senate seat in 2024 when Trump-backed Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) defeated him in a tossup race. Through Dec. 31 last year, Brown held a significant fundraising advantage over Husted with nearly $4 million more cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) files.

Brown, a longtime vocal advocate of working class and pro-union policies, has also surged in recent polling while Husted has routinely supported President Donald Trump’s controversial agenda. Husted has supported the Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill and Trump’s tariff policy and the unprovoked war with Iran — all of which have contributed to increased costs for Americans.

Michigan

In Michigan, SLF is committing $45 million to support former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R). Even though Rogers lost to U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) in an extremely tight race in 2024, Rogers is the Republican frontrunner in 2026 who is another frequent proponent of Trump’s policies. Rogers has called for patience on Trump’s tariffs, mischaracterized the GOP’s Medicaid cuts and downplayed the economic cost of Trump’s conflict with Iran.

The $45 million will be the most SLF is spending on a seat that is not currently held by a Republican.

“Senate Leadership Fund’s historic investment is a testament to the strength of Mike Rogers and our commitment to flipping Michigan red in November,” SLF executive director Alex Latchman told Detroit News. “Mike is a trusted leader who will fight for Michigan’s working families and auto industry, and we are confident he will be the next United States senator from Michigan.”

Five Democrats are vying for the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s Aug. 8 primary, including U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed.

A Republican hasn’t won a U.S. Senate election in Michigan since Spencer Abraham in 1994.