A group tied to President Donald Trump’s massive political operation reserved at least $4.4 million in ads in the race between former Gov. Paul LePage and State Auditor Matt Dunlap for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
The reservations first appeared in tracking by AdImpact on Thursday and Friday and came from a group called Safety and Affordability PAC, which registered at the Federal Election Commission on Sept. 1, the same day as another Trump-connected group spending big elsewhere. The organizations have the same treasurer, compliance firm and media vendor.
It shows Maine as a top priority for national Republicans. The open 2nd District stands out as one of the party’s only realistic pickup opportunities on a midterm map that otherwise favors Democrats. However, the race has been overshadowed by a battleground U.S. Senate race.
The 2nd District has voted three times for Trump. LePage, a Republican, became the favorite after four-term U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who held the seat despite its Republican lean, opted not to seek a fifth term. Dunlap won a close four-way Democratic primary in June.
The spending made Safety and Affordability PAC the third-biggest holder of ad reservations in the race, trailing only House Majority PAC’s $8.2 million backing Dunlap and the Congressional Leadership Fund’s $5.4 million backing LePage.
Total ad reservations in the race have topped $26.5 million since the start of last year, with Republicans holding a narrow edge, $13.9 million to $12.6 million, per AdImpact. The 2024 race between Golden and Republican Austin Theriault eclipsed $42 million in the highest-spending House race in Maine history.
AdImpact lists Safety and Affordability PAC’s media buyer as MHB Media, the same vendor it credits for No Going Back PAC‘s first broadcast buy this week, a Kentucky 6th District ad placed by the same firm, according to a screenshot shared by CNN’s Patrick Svitek.
The New York Times reported this week that No Going Back PAC is bankrolled by MAGA Inc., Trump’s flagship super PAC, which reported a $400 million war chest in July. Charles Gantt, a Republican compliance specialist who regularly organizes committees for Trump-aligned groups, is treasurer of both PACs, FEC filings show. Both list the same Massachusetts Bulldog Compliance and the same bank.
MAGA Inc. and the ad-buying firm did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The buy adds to a massive amount of national money flowing into Maine’s federal races this fall. Elon Musk’s political network began spending earlier this month to help Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. She and her allies are swamping opponent Troy Jackson in ad spending so far, with $132 million on the Republican side and $87 million on the Democratic one.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the registration status of Safety and Affordability PAC. It has filed with the Federal Election Commission.