What Happened?

Josh Turek drew about $9.76 million from a progressive veterans group backing VoteVets Democratic candidates, the group's largest single investment in the 2026 cycle. Through Aug. 31, VoteVets raised $25.998 million, spent $30.89 million and held $5.36 million in cash.

Periodic reports through Aug. 31 show $18.34 million in independent expenditures, with all filings totaling $19.16 million. The group describes itself as America's largest progressive veterans organization, with a mission to elevate the voices of veterans and military families through Democratic legislative policies and electoral endorsements.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Democrat Matthew Maasdam, running in Michigan's 7th District, drew approximately $2.15 million in VoteVets independent expenditures. That means more ads on your TV, phone and computer as Election Day gets closer.
Other spending in the reports included:

  • About $1.21 million supporting Democrat Maura Corby Sullivan in New Hampshire's 1st District
  • About $1.08 million supporting Democrat Cait Conley in New York's 17th District
  • About $1.04 million supporting Democrat Luke Bronin in Connecticut's 1st District
  • Support for Democrat Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey's 7th District and $320,434 opposing Republican Stefany Shaheen in the same New Hampshire 1st District race as Sullivan

So if you live in one of these districts, expect to hear those names a lot.

Both Sides, Now

VoteVets directed millions of dollars in outside spending across candidates it both supported and opposed in the 2026 cycle, with periodic reports through Aug. 31 showing $18.34 million in independent expenditures. Its largest reported donor was VoteVets Action Fund at $1 million, followed by the UA Union Plumbers and Pipefitters Vote! PAC at $750,000, The Bench at $650,000, Project 218 at $500,000 and Serving CA at $425,546.

On one side, the group and its affiliated action fund advocate on issues affecting troops, veterans and military families, including veterans' health care and employment, foreign policy, energy security, service members' rights and democratic institutions. On the other side of the ledger, the filings show money spent to oppose Shaheen while the rest of the committee's largest commitments supported Democratic candidates.

What Happens Next?

The filings detail recent ad buys that put the money on the air, including $625,220 on March 23 and $744,467 on April 21 to Waterfront Strategies for TV supporting Turek in Iowa, plus an $825,000 statewide advertising campaign supporting Turek announced in March. Other buys included $650,000 on Aug. 24 to Targeted Platform Media LLC for TV supporting Sullivan, $300,000 on May 6 to Aisle 518 Strategies for digital supporting Democrat Nancy Lacore in South Carolina's 1st District, and $227,904 on July 24 to Admire Media LLC for TV supporting Bronin.

The figures cover activity through Aug. 31. Watch those House and Senate races for additional ads, and later finance reports will show where any remaining money went. Voters in Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Connecticut will likely see the effects first.

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