This statistic shows the total spending by outside groups during election cycles in the United States from 1990 to 2024. Outside spending is used to describe political contributions made from groups or individuals independent of political candidate committees. Outside spending groups include PACs, Super PACs, 527 organizations and 501(c) groups.
As of November 16, 2024, outside groups had spent over 4.46 billion U.S. dollars during the 2024 election cycle, almost double than the 2020 election cycle.
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Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024
(in U.S. dollars)
Election cycle spending is through November 16. Totals include spending on independent expenditures, electioneering communications, and communication costs.
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opensecrets.org. (November 16, 2024). Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 05, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/
opensecrets.org. "Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. dollars)." Chart. November 16, 2024. Statista. Accessed July 05, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/
opensecrets.org. (2024). Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 05, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/
opensecrets.org. "Outside Group Spending in The United States Political Cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Nov 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/
opensecrets.org, Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/ (last visited July 05, 2025)
Outside group spending in the United States political cycles from 1990 to 2024 (in U.S. dollars) [Graph], opensecrets.org, November 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/611303/outside-spending-in-us-political-cycles/
