With control of the US Senate hanging in the balance, corruption has emerged as a defining election issue. Now, independent voters will decide whether allegations of misconduct, political favoritism, and insider dealing cost candidates their seats.
From Massachusetts to Alaska, voters will decide on ballot measures this November that would reshape how Americans vote, including open primaries and ranked choice voting systems. But these movements extend beyond the ballot box.
The Federal Election Commission has lacked the minimum quorum to enforce campaign finance laws for 18 months, leaving a backlog of 157 alleged violations while billions flow through 2026 midterm elections.
As Q3 reports land, the strongest independent campaigns of 2026 are raising real money, and Republicans are using the source of those funds to fuel their attacks.
Alaska voters will decide whether to repeal the state's 2020 election reforms, including open primaries, ranked choice voting, and campaign finance disclosure rules that expose dark money sources.
OpenSecrets launches a new dashboard combining state and federal campaign finance data into one searchable platform, making it easier for voters, journalists, and researchers to track money in politics across all levels of government.
A newly launched super PAC in New Hampshire will use AI to influence Senate races by elevating third-party candidates designed to siphon votes from Republican candidates and help Democrats gain control of the chamber.
A campaign ad in Alaska claims Ballot Measure 2 would bring back open primaries and reject dark money, but the state already has nonpartisan open primaries that the measure would actually repeal and restrict campaign finance transparency.
Alaska's effort to repeal ranked choice voting would also roll back campaign finance transparency rules, removing disclosure requirements for dark money and out-of-state donations that voters approved in 2020.
A federal judge granted the Idaho Libertarian Party temporary freedom from state campaign spending limits, following a Supreme Court decision that removed federal caps on coordinated party spending with candidates.
Alaska voters approved campaign contribution limits in Tuesday's primary, but face another vote in November on whether to repeal disclosure rules that expose sources of political spending.
