How much money is behind each campaign? - Washington Post
https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2021/02/2020-cycle-cost-14p4-billion-doubling-16/
Democratic candidates and groups spent $8.4 billion, compared to $5.3 billion for Republicans. Democrats' spending falls to $7 billion when excluding spending by billionaire presidential candidates Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer.
When the crust (uniparty donor class) gives out tens of millions to these tools, the actual American trying to run doesn't get a voice.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/03/2022-midterm-election-spending-set-to-break-record.html
“No other midterm election has seen as much money at the state and federal levels as the 2022 elections,” said Sheila Krumholz, OpenSecrets’ executive director. “We’re seeing record-breaking totals spent on elections up and down the ballot.”
Outside groups are also taking advantage of loopholes in disclosure rules. Each of the top 7 super PACs were partially funded by dark money. Pro-Biden groups like Future Forward USA and Priorities USA Action were bankrolled by nonprofit affiliates that share the same name and staffers. Instead of directly spending money on ads, dark money groups are increasingly finding new ways to inject secret money into elections.
https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/cost-of-election?cycle=2020&display=T&infl=N
More money, less transparency: A decade under Citizens United • OpenSecrets