Donors turn their attention to top cop races in midterms: ‘Attorneys General act and win’
What's the endgame here?
Political donors are shattering attorney general fundraising records across the country as the candidates for top cop jobs draw increasing attention in their efforts to challenge federal policy and defend states’ jurisdiction.
The Republican and Democratic Attorneys General Associations — the primary campaign arms for top state prosecutors — each broke their all-time annual fundraising records in 2025, raising $29.3 million and $28 million, respectively. With their over $29 million fundraising haul, the RAGA raised the most money any of any attorneys general group ever in a single year.
“When we look at the fundraising, donors who typically ignore AG races are waking up that these are very important elections,” RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper told the Washington Examiner. “It matters as much to a state as who the Attorney General is as [it does] who the governor is.”
With each group aiming to break their own fundraising records again this year, attorney general races in 2026 could be the hidden midterm elections for political junkies to pay attention to. There are 30 attorney general seats up for reelection in 2026, with at least five toss-up states in play for candidates.
Why AG races are getting more attention
Because attorneys general initiate more lawsuits against presidential administrations, they arguably wield more direct power over state policies than House members in a 435-person chamber. This often leads them to seek higher office following their terms, meaning more donors and candidates will jump into play.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, DAGA President Sean Rankin said his group’s 2025 fundraising pull “is a prime example of the strength we have right now as a committee.” He pointed to legal challenges against the Trump administration by blue states as a reason donors have gravitated toward the races.
“Donors recognize the harm the Trump administration is committing and understand that Democratic AGs are the only group of elected leaders holding him accountable,” Rankin said.
Piper told the Washington Examiner that “no one can have a bigger footprint on federal policy than someone in the presidential administration or the US Senate, than an AG.”
“The Democrat AGs have had some success against the Trump administration,” Piper said. “The Republican AGs won over 80% of cases against the Biden administration, really enabling a lot of the key wins for this Trump administration on energy and other things to take foothold.” …
What's the endgame here?
Political donors are shattering attorney general fundraising records across the country as the candidates for top cop jobs draw increasing attention in their efforts to challenge federal policy and defend states’ jurisdiction.
The Republican and Democratic Attorneys General Associations — the primary campaign arms for top state prosecutors — each broke their all-time annual fundraising records in 2025, raising $29.3 million and $28 million, respectively. With their over $29 million fundraising haul, the RAGA raised the most money any of any attorneys general group ever in a single year.
“When we look at the fundraising, donors who typically ignore AG races are waking up that these are very important elections,” RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper told the Washington Examiner. “It matters as much to a state as who the Attorney General is as [it does] who the governor is.”
With each group aiming to break their own fundraising records again this year, attorney general races in 2026 could be the hidden midterm elections for political junkies to pay attention to. There are 30 attorney general seats up for reelection in 2026, with at least five toss-up states in play for candidates.
Why AG races are getting more attention
Because attorneys general initiate more lawsuits against presidential administrations, they arguably wield more direct power over state policies than House members in a 435-person chamber. This often leads them to seek higher office following their terms, meaning more donors and candidates will jump into play.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, DAGA President Sean Rankin said his group’s 2025 fundraising pull “is a prime example of the strength we have right now as a committee.” He pointed to legal challenges against the Trump administration by blue states as a reason donors have gravitated toward the races.
“Donors recognize the harm the Trump administration is committing and understand that Democratic AGs are the only group of elected leaders holding him accountable,” Rankin said.
Piper told the Washington Examiner that “no one can have a bigger footprint on federal policy than someone in the presidential administration or the US Senate, than an AG.”
“The Democrat AGs have had some success against the Trump administration,” Piper said. “The Republican AGs won over 80% of cases against the Biden administration, really enabling a lot of the key wins for this Trump administration on energy and other things to take foothold.” …
Donors turn their attention to top cop races in midterms: ‘Attorneys General act and win’
What's the endgame here?
Political donors are shattering attorney general fundraising records across the country as the candidates for top cop jobs draw increasing attention in their efforts to challenge federal policy and defend states’ jurisdiction.
The Republican and Democratic Attorneys General Associations — the primary campaign arms for top state prosecutors — each broke their all-time annual fundraising records in 2025, raising $29.3 million and $28 million, respectively. With their over $29 million fundraising haul, the RAGA raised the most money any of any attorneys general group ever in a single year.
“When we look at the fundraising, donors who typically ignore AG races are waking up that these are very important elections,” RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper told the Washington Examiner. “It matters as much to a state as who the Attorney General is as [it does] who the governor is.”
With each group aiming to break their own fundraising records again this year, attorney general races in 2026 could be the hidden midterm elections for political junkies to pay attention to. There are 30 attorney general seats up for reelection in 2026, with at least five toss-up states in play for candidates.
Why AG races are getting more attention
Because attorneys general initiate more lawsuits against presidential administrations, they arguably wield more direct power over state policies than House members in a 435-person chamber. This often leads them to seek higher office following their terms, meaning more donors and candidates will jump into play.
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, DAGA President Sean Rankin said his group’s 2025 fundraising pull “is a prime example of the strength we have right now as a committee.” He pointed to legal challenges against the Trump administration by blue states as a reason donors have gravitated toward the races.
“Donors recognize the harm the Trump administration is committing and understand that Democratic AGs are the only group of elected leaders holding him accountable,” Rankin said.
Piper told the Washington Examiner that “no one can have a bigger footprint on federal policy than someone in the presidential administration or the US Senate, than an AG.”
“The Democrat AGs have had some success against the Trump administration,” Piper said. “The Republican AGs won over 80% of cases against the Biden administration, really enabling a lot of the key wins for this Trump administration on energy and other things to take foothold.” …
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