A network of leading conservative megadonors has funneled tens of millions of dollars into the fight for the Senate during the third quarter of the year, as per new filings with the Federal Election Commission. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with outgoing Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, reported a record-breaking fundraising total of $115.7 million in the third quarter. This amount, although slightly less than the $119 million raised by its Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority PAC, still marks a significant milestone for the group.
During the period from July to September, prominent donors to Republican candidates and causes generously contributed to the Senate GOP super PAC. Notable contributors included billionaire financiers such as Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, who donated $20 million in the third quarter, bringing his total contributions for the year to $27.5 million. Paul Singer, founder and CEO of Elliott Management, also gave $10 million in the third quarter, making his total for the year $20 million. Stephen Schwarzman, co-founder and CEO of Blackstone Group, contributed $9 million.
Furthermore, Miriam Adelson, widow of the late casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who had previously donated $95 million to a pro-Trump super PAC in the quarter, gave $5 million to the Senate Leadership Fund in Q3, bringing her total contributions for the year to the group to $15 million. The Senate Leadership Fund has been a key player in supporting Republican Senate campaigns since its establishment in 2015. During the 2022 midterms, the super PAC spent over $290 million in backing GOP candidates.
