WASHINGTON — America’s Credit Unions is reporting that it and its political action committee are making a record $10 million in expenditures in the 2026 midterm elections, with nearly half of the money earmarked for advertising and voter outreach in competitive congressional races, the trade group announced.
America’s Credit Unions said the spending represents a record political investment by the credit union industry and is intended to support Republican and Democratic candidates the organization considers supporters of credit unions.
“Amid the high-stakes facing our financial system, credit unions are deliberately bringing our full resources to bear in this election cycle,” President and CEO Scott Simpson said in a statement.
Simpson said the $10 million investment is intended to help credit unions shape the policy environment in the next Congress and support candidates from both parties.
“We are mobilizing our national grassroots base to back candidates on both sides of the aisle who understand that supporting credit unions means protecting access to affordable credit for working families, family farms, and Main Street businesses,” Simpson added in a statement.
Nearly $5M Going to Battleground Races
America’s Credit Unions said nearly $5 million of the overall investment is being directed toward digital advertising, targeted direct mail and voter-contact efforts in congressional battlegrounds.
Among the Senate candidates receiving support are Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) who is running for the Senate.
House candidates identified for direct investment include Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ); Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV); Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY); Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) and Republican Jennifer Balkcom in North Carolina.
The PAC said its overall election spending is divided on a bipartisan basis.
America’s Credit Unions said 96% of the candidates it backed in the primaries won their races and advanced to the November general election.
According to the trade group, its PAC has supported 303 candidates so far, including 44 candidates running for open seats, according to the organization. Its election activities include direct campaign contributions, independent expenditures, communications with credit union members and canvassing.
The organization expects more than 340 candidates it supports to appear on general election ballots and said additional advertising plans will be announced before the November election.
PAC Targets Closely Contested Seats
Trey Hawkins, head of political affairs at America’s Credit Unions, said the organization is concentrating some of its spending in congressional districts expected to be closely contested.
“As control of Congress comes down to a handful of closely contested seats, credit unions cannot afford to sit on the sidelines,” Hawkins said in a statement. “Lawmakers from both parties recognize that credit unions provide essential financial access to families and small businesses back home. Our focus with this historic investment is straightforward: back candidates on both sides of the aisle who have proven they will stand up for Main Street and protect the millions of everyday Americans who depend on them.”
