'If You Can Keep It': The Deal With Dark Money

At least a billion dollars of untraceable cash is flowing into this year’s midterm elections.

That’s according toan analysis by The New York Times from late last month. (nytimes.com/2026/08/31/us/politics/the-least-t…) These funds – referred to as dark money by campaign finance experts – are coming from super PACs, non-profits, and wealthy donors.

Tracing exactlyhow much dark money is flowing through campaigns is difficult. (cbsnews.com/news/texas-dark-money-talarico-com…) Money spent to hire influencers online, direct mail campaigns, and employ door knockers isn’t always publicly disclosed as campaign spending.

In this edition of “If you Can Keep it,” we tacklethe role of dark money in our midterm elections. (brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/ci…)

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