The Republican Senate committee borrowed $20m against its deposits and donor list in September, more than its cash lead over the Democrats, as Democratic Party spending with candidates rose from $1.00m to $21.05m. super PACs now carry the seats it skipped, and the Justice Department wants California to hold back mail ballots from 20,000 listed voters.
The NRSC's September cash lead rests on a $20m loan, while Democrats moved their party money into the races.
The Senate Republicans' campaign arm drew $20m from Chain Bridge Bank in September, pledging its cash and the names of its donors. Its lead over the DSCC at month's end was $3.35m.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) borrowed $20m from Chain Bridge Bank in September. It pledged its bank deposits and its list of donors as security. On 30 September it held $28.29m in cash, while its Democratic rival held $24.94m.
Take the loan away and the Republican Senate arm would be behind. Repayment is due on 31 August 2027.
The Justice Department renewed its emergency bid on 21 October to make California set aside ballots sent to 20,000 voters it calls likely non-citizens. Los Angeles County says many on the list were born in the US.
United StatesThe Justice Department (DOJ) asked a federal court again on 21 October to make California hold back mail ballots. They were sent to more than 20,000 people that DOJ calls likely non-citizens. Judge David O. Carter now has the case.
DOJ has charged 28 people from that list. Los Angeles County says over a quarter of the listed voters it checked gave a US birthplace. No judge has ruled yet.
Seven plaintiffs led by the DSCC, with Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries among them, sued the President on 20 October. They allege a course of threats to prosecute state election officials.
Seven Democratic plaintiffs, including Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, sued Donald Trump in Washington on 20 October. They say his administration threatens state election officials with criminal charges. Chief Judge James Boasberg took the case the next day.
Both Democratic campaign committees for Congress are now suing the sitting President over how an election is run. They want a court to stop the threats before polling day on 3 November.
The DSCC went from $1.00m to $21.05m of party spending with its Senate nominees in September, while the NRSC cut back. The Republican edge fell from 10.5 to 1 to 1.7 to 1.
Democratic Senate and House committees spent $48.62m alongside their candidates in September, up from $5.09m in August. Republican committees spent $80.83m. The Republican lead in this party spending fell from 10.5 to 1 to 1.7 to 1 in a month.
September fell almost wholly inside the 60-day candidate-rate window. The filings show the timing of Democratic spending, not the committees' reasons.
Texas PAC, funded by the Senate Leadership Fund, reported $32.35m against James Talarico in one 24-hour filing on 21 October. Its spending in the race now stands at $180.93m.
TEXAS PAC (a Super PAC funded by the Senate Leadership Fund) reported $32.35m against Democrat James Talarico in one filing on 21 October. Its spending in the Texas Senate race reached $180.93m, up from $131.53m on 30 September.
TEXAS PAC made both payments on 20 October, a day after in-person early voting opened. Harris County cast about 105,000 ballots on that first day.
The ad arm of Senate Majority PAC has reported $8.14m against Kansas Senator Roger Marshall since 10 October. On his side, the Senate Leadership Fund has put in $6.29m while the NRSC gave him nothing in September.
WinSenate, the ad-buying arm of the Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC (political action committee), reported $8.14m of Kansas ads against Senator Roger Marshall from 10 to 20 October. On the Republican side, the Senate Leadership Fund spent $6.29m.
The Republican Senate committee gave Marshall no party money in September. Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932, and outside groups are now paying for the fight.
Arlington County's board sued DHS, ICE, DOJ and the FBI on 20 October under an 1865 law that bars troops or armed men at the place of an election. It wants armed federal staff kept from every voting site in the county.
Arlington County in Virginia sued the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Justice Department and the FBI on 20 October. It wants armed federal agents kept away from its polling places and drop boxes. Judge Leonie Brinkema has the case.
The county relies on an 1865 law that bars troops or armed men at elections. Lowdown has found no other county or city that has brought a suit like it.
The Senate Leadership Fund filed $50.41m of independent spending in seven reports in a week. South Carolina, where it now backs interim Senator Darline Graham Nordone, took $4.06m.
The Senate Leadership Fund, the main Republican Senate Super PAC (political action committee), reported $50.41m of spending in seven filings from 15 to 21 October. Its biggest target was Sherrod Brown in Ohio, at $13.74m.
On 19 October it also began spending for interim Senator Darline Graham Nordone in South Carolina. Republicans are now paying to defend a seat in a state Donald Trump carried in 2024.
North Carolina took 1,050,226 in-person early votes by 21 October, state data files show. Mail ballots received but not counted rose to 2,133. Separately, a federal judge left the new inner-envelope rule standing.
North Carolina took 1,050,226 in-person early votes by 21 October, about 13% of its 7.9m registered voters. Monday 19 October was the busiest day, with 203,580.
Mail ballots received but not counted rose to 2,133 by 22 October, from 1,400 a week earlier. Separately, a new envelope rule remains in force. The files do not give a reason for each ballot not counted.
An Alaska judge refused to dismiss a privacy suit over the state handing the Justice Department its unredacted voter list. The list carried licence numbers and partial Social Security numbers.
Alaska Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman refused to throw out a privacy suit over the state's voter list, Alaska Public Media reported on 21 October. Alaska gave the Justice Department the full list in 2025, with licence and partial Social Security numbers.
The case now goes to evidence-gathering under Alaska's own constitution. Zeman wrote that the state had given the department carte blanche to submit removals whenever it pleases.
Stephen Richer, the Republican former Maricopa County recorder, submitted a Supreme Court brief on 20 October supporting the voting groups on documentary proof of citizenship at registration. He takes no position on the separate 90-day voter-removal question.
Stephen Richer, the Republican former recorder of Maricopa County in Arizona, submitted a Supreme Court brief on 20 October. He supports voting groups on documentary proof of citizenship at registration and takes no position on the separate 90-day voter-removal question.
The Democratic National Committee asked the same day for time to argue. The federal government had already filed on the Republican side on 16 October.
Up. Judge David O. Carter can rule at any time on DOJ's renewed 21 October application to set aside mail ballots sent to more than 20,000 listed California voters, and Los Angeles Registrar Dean Logan's motion to dismiss is set for hearing on 30 October 2026, four days before polling day. A ballot order from Carter, or an early ruling from Judge Leonie Brinkema in Arlington's case, would carry the fight from court filings into the count itself.
