Why It Matters

No Going Back PAC, a Republican-aligned super PAC linked in news reporting to MAGA Inc., has been associated with $161.9 million in reported independent expenditures since registering Sept. 1. The supplied spending figures show approximately $127.5 million opposing Democratic candidates and $34.26 million supporting Republicans, with major expenditures in Senate races in Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina. The total requires reconciliation against original and amended FEC notices. ​

The Federal Election Commission identifies the committee as an active, unauthorized independent-expenditure-only super PAC. Charles Gantt is its treasurer, and its registered address is care of Bulldog Compliance in Beverly, Massachusetts. The FEC's committee overview does not currently display a regular-report financial summary or itemized contributions for the cycle. That absence does not establish that the PAC has no financial backers.

Reuters reported Sept. 27 that MAGA Inc. fully funded No Going Back PAC. The New York Times later described the group as tied to MAGA Inc. Its reported expenditures reflect substantial involvement in congressional races supporting Republican candidates and opposing Democrats.

What It Spent

The supplied figures indicate that No Going Back PAC devoted most of its reported spending to opposing Democratic candidates. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in Ohio, was associated with $20.15 million in opposition spending. Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, the nominee in the open Michigan Senate race, faced $19.81 million in reported opposition expenditures.

Other reported targets included North Carolina Democrat Roy Cooper, with $8.83 million, and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), with $7.58 million.

The committee also reported substantial support expenditures for Republican candidates, including $7.62 million for Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), $3.55 million for Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and $3.36 million for Mike Rogers in Michigan. Together, those three candidates accounted for approximately $14.53 million in reported support expenditures, compared with $20.15 million opposing Brown alone.

Who Funds It

The PAC's FEC filings show no donor or receipt records. Reuters reported Sept. 27 that MAGA Inc. "fully funded" the PAC. NBC News reported Oct. 6 that it and Safety and Affordability PAC had booked more than $150 million in new ads since September began.

The Ad Buy

Much of No Going Back PAC's reported spending has gone toward television and connected-TV advertising through Del Ray Media LLC. On Sept. 10, the committee reportedly paid Del Ray Media $4.93 million for advertising opposing Brown. Five days later, it reportedly paid another $4.93 million for the same purpose, bringing the two transactions to about $9.86 million. On Sept. 28, Del Ray Media reportedly received $3.99 million for advertising opposing El-Sayed.

The committee also directed spending toward House races. On Sept. 28, MHB Media Inc. reportedly received $2.38 million for advertising opposing Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL). A secondary FEC compilation identified approximately $7.27 million in total opposition expenditures against Moskowitz as of its earlier reporting cutoff.

FCC broadcast records identify several major advertising placements: WABC-TV in New York received $984,000 for Sept. 30-Oct. 6 and $800,000 for Sept. 16–24; WJBK in Detroit received $846,000 for Sept. 10–15; and KTUU-TV in Anchorage received $808,000 for Sept. 23-29, $861,000 for Oct. 21–27, and $845,000 for Oct. 28-Nov. 3.

The records also identify new or revised advertising reservations reported Oct. 16: WGAL in the Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York market reserved $165,000 in advertising for Oct. 14-20. Three additional reservations in the market totaled $345,545, with advertising scheduled between Oct. 14 and Nov. 8. In the Burlington-Plattsburgh market, reservations increased by $295 for WFFF-TV and $700 for WVNY, respectively, for Oct. 14-20.

The committee has also been active in Texas. The Washington Post reported Oct. 14 that No Going Back PAC, which it identified as linked to MAGA Inc., spent about $4 million in Texas' 35th Congressional District, though that figure was based on advertising data rather than a reconciled FEC expenditure total.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

In the Michigan Senate race, SLF PAC has spent $31.7 million opposing El-Sayed and $1.08 million supporting Rogers. WinSenate has spent $17.51 million opposing Rogers and $4.82 million supporting El-Sayed.

In the Ohio Senate race, SLF PAC has spent $54.48 million opposing Brown and $961,000 supporting Husted. Defend American Jobs has spent $33.78 million supporting Husted and $12.89 million opposing Brown.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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