The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) and affiliated groups have reserved nearly $11 million in television advertising for the opening phase of the 2026 election cycle, signalling an aggressive early campaign strategy across several closely watched attorney general races in the United States.
The initial round of advertising reservations will focus on battleground states including Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Georgia and Kansas, according to an announcement issued by the organisation. The spending marks one of the earliest major advertising commitments ahead of the 2026 contests and reflects growing Republican efforts to strengthen their position in statewide legal and law enforcement offices.
The campaign also builds on wider Republican fundraising and media activity already under way in several states. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s campaign has separately booked more than $2 million in fall television advertising, further highlighting the importance being placed on attorney general races by national Republican groups.
Attorney general elections in the United States have increasingly attracted national political attention in recent years, as state attorneys general have taken prominent roles in litigation involving immigration, consumer protection, healthcare policy and federal regulations. Both Republican and Democratic organisations are expected to invest heavily in the 2026 cycle.
“RAGA has a good map in 2026 and will be on offense because the reality is voters prioritize public safety and prefer Republican AGs who fight crime and win at the courthouse over Democrat AGs who pander to criminals with cashless bail idiocracy,” said RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper. “These early TV reservations and direct candidate investments are merely a down payment on the resources RAGA will marshal this fall.”
The organisation said the first advertising reservations are aimed at states viewed as competitive opportunities for Republican gains. The announcement highlighted policy differences between Republican and Democratic candidates in several jurisdictions, particularly on criminal justice and immigration-related matters.
In Michigan, Democrats endorsed Eli Savit, the former prosecutor for Washtenaw County, an area that includes Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. RAGA criticised policies introduced during his tenure, including moves related to cash bail reform and prosecutorial practices concerning certain low-level drug offences.
In Georgia, the group also referenced Democratic candidate Tanya Miller’s opposition to HB 1105, legislation enacted following the murder of Laken Riley. The law requires jail officials to verify the immigration status of inmates and cooperate with federal immigration authorities under specified circumstances.
Political analysts have identified attorney general races as increasingly influential because the office often serves as a legal counterweight to presidential administrations and state legislatures. Campaign spending in these contests has risen significantly over the past decade, with both parties treating the positions as strategically important.
RAGA stated that Republican attorney general-aligned organisations enter the 2026 election cycle following what it described as record fundraising momentum. The group previously announced it had raised $29.3 million across all affiliated entities during 2025, which it said represented the largest annual fundraising total ever recorded by an attorneys general organisation.
The political landscape heading into 2026 may also provide opportunities for party turnover in several states. According to election analysis from Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, all five attorney general races currently rated as “toss ups” are held by Democratic incumbents.
“This is just the first round,” Piper continued. “Democrats should understand that Republican AGs are not playing defense. We are taking the fight directly to them, and we are going to make sure voters know exactly what is at stake in these races.”
The latest advertising reservations suggest the contest for control of attorney general offices could become one of the more financially competitive elements of the broader 2026 midterm election cycle. Political strategists from both parties are expected to continue increasing investment levels as candidates emerge and campaign activity accelerates later this year.
RAGA indicated that additional advertising reservations and campaign investments are expected as the election cycle develops and races become more defined across the country.
