Driving the news: Democrat Senate candidates are heading to California for cash as midterm fundraising intensifies ahead of the November 2026 election.
Abdul El-Sayed, the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee, is set to host a fundraiser in San Francisco’s financial district at the end of September. His campaign website says he is 'running to build a government that works for regular Michiganders—not billionaires and corporations,' and tickets are running upward of $500.
James Talarico, the Texas Democrat Senate nominee, held a second Hollywood fundraiser in Los Angeles. Tickets ran upward of $13,000. More than 50% of the funds raised by Talarico came from donors outside Texas during the first quarter of the campaign, Fox News Digital reported.
Jon Ossoff, the Georgia Democrat incumbent, hosted a private 'Women for Ossoff' call with Kamala Harris in attendance. Ossoff said he was 'grateful' for her endorsement. He also campaigned with Talarico in California last week.
Josh Turek, the Iowa Democrat Senate nominee, says he has no plans to campaign with Harris and is not seeking her endorsement. But he traveled nearly 2,000 miles for a California fundraiser earlier this week.
Sherrod Brown, the Ohio Democrat Senate nominee, also fundraised in California for the Ohio Grassroots Victory Fund. The late-night event cost attendees anywhere from a few thousand dollars to upward of $13,500.
Why it matters: This is the modern donor model: expensive tickets, distant fundraisers and a party that keeps returning to California capital. That works for campaigns, but it also shows where the money lives. For voters outside the donor class, it is a reminder that the political class still runs on access, not just ideas.
The bottom line: Midterm money is flowing through the wealthiest parts of the country. The candidates may talk about working people, but the checks are still coming from the left coast.