• Anti-Trump group targets up to 60 Republican-held districts with historic funding ahead of midterms
• Leaders criticize Democratic Party for losing 4.5 million net voters to Republicans since 2020
• Strategy follows Democrat overperformances averaging 13 points in nearly 60 special elections this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Former Republicans who broke with their party over Donald Trump believe Democrats are squandering a historic opportunity to retake the House of Representatives, and they are putting significant money behind their concerns.

The Save America Movement, co-founded by former Lincoln Project founder Steve Schmidt, is planning to invest up to $100 million targeting as many as 60 Republican-held House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The ambitious electoral strategy, first reported by POLITICO, represents the Democrat-aligned group’s first major foray into campaign politics after spending months organizing protests against President Trump’s second term.

“The Save America movement was started with the express mission of defeating MAGA, but the electoral side, particularly the 2026 elections, are absolutely critical to that mission.”

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Mary Corcoran, co-founder and executive director of Save America Movement PAC, made the statement while outlining the group’s electoral ambitions.

Sharp Criticism of Democratic Party Leadership

The timing reflects both opportunity and frustration. Save America Movement leaders have been sharply critical of Democratic National Committee infrastructure, arguing national leaders have failed to capitalize on favorable political winds despite consistent overperformances in 2025 elections.

Schmidt specifically cited voter registration trends as evidence of Democratic failure. According to analyses of voter registration records, Democrats lost approximately 2.1 million registered voters between 2020 and 2024, while Republicans gained 2.4 million across 30 states that track party affiliation. The net swing of roughly 4.5 million voters toward the GOP represents what Schmidt called a crisis Democratic leadership has failed to address.

“The work of electing a Congress to restore checks and balances on Trump is too important to leave to Democratic leaders in Washington, whose record speaks for itself,” Schmidt stated in announcing the PAC’s launch.

Democrats Overperform Despite Registration Losses

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Despite the registration deficit, Democrats have shown surprising strength in 2025 special elections. In nearly 60 state legislative and congressional contests, Democratic candidates have improved on their 2024 margins by an average of 13 to 14 percentage points.

Last week’s Tennessee special election exemplified the pattern. Republican Matt Van Epps won a district Trump carried by 22 points, but only by 9 points after heavy investment from both parties. DNC Chairman Ken Martin called the result “a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms.”

The House currently stands at 220-213 in favor of Republicans, a margin narrow enough that shifting political winds could flip control.

Group’s Origins and Electoral Transition

Schmidt, who previously helped lead John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and co-founded the Lincoln Project in 2019, registered as a Democrat in December 2020. The Lincoln Project raised nearly $100 million during the 2020 election cycle opposing Trump’s re-election bid.

The Save America Movement launched in mid-2025 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit focused on organizing protests and opposition to Trump administration policies. The new PAC structure allows the group to engage directly in electoral politics with independent expenditures supporting candidates.

Save America Movement PAC is structured as a hybrid political action committee, permitting both direct candidate contributions and unlimited independent spending.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The $100 million target would make Save America Movement PAC one of the most significant outside spending operations of the 2026 cycle. The group’s strategy of targeting 60 Republican-held seats suggests an aggressive approach focused on expanding the electoral map beyond traditional battleground districts.

Whether the group can raise and deploy such resources remains to be seen. The Lincoln Project demonstrated Schmidt’s ability to attract significant donor support, though that organization faced internal controversies that led to his departure in 2021.

Can outside groups like Save America Movement PAC succeed where Democratic Party leadership has struggled in converting voter enthusiasm into lasting electoral infrastructure?

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