Record donations are pouring into midterm races for US attorneys-general as they become increasingly active in business regulation and enforcement. In the latest quarter before the November vote, $23.1 million was donated to races for officials who enforce state laws and defend interests in court. Democrats reported raising $13.7 million in the last full quarter and $15.9 million in the first half of the year, while Republicans brought in $9.4 million and $21.1 million respectively.
The surge reflects the growing clout of attorneys-general, who have emerged as a check on the Trump administration and industries like tech and AI. Thirty attorney-general offices are on the ballot, with Democrats defending 16 seats and Republicans 14. State attorneys-general have stepped up antitrust and consumer protection actions, including pursuing a monopoly case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster and challenging Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery.
Since 2025, about 55% of donations to the Democratic Attorneys General Association and 69% to the Republican version have come from corporations. Tech, AI and gambling companies have donated at least $3.8 million to these groups since January 2025, including first-time donors Kalshi ($472,500), Polymarket ($192,500) and Open AI ($425,000). Longstanding donors Amazon, Google and Meta have contributed a combined $4.5 million since 2014, with roughly $1.6 million since 2025.
Although donations go to national party organisations, the trend raises questions about corporate influence over attorneys-general shaping regulatory standards.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing