Democrats have spent $36 million on Epstein-related ads in midterm election cycle

Democrats have leaned into outrage surrounding Jeffrey Epstein to whip up voter sentiment, spending over $36 million on Epstein-related ads in the 2026 midterm elections, according to an AdImpact analysis cited by Politico.Epstein has become a central theme as part of the midterm cycle, with candidates often trading accusations over who was somehow connected to the late sex offender. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) Senate Majority PAC alone said it spent over $20 million on Epstein ads in Senate races in Maine, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Georgia, and Alaska.The mountain of funds hasn’t focused on a handful of ads either — CBS News tallied over 500 ads featuring Epstein or pedophiles run this cycle, most of them from Democrats. The ads typically focus on donors who were connected to Epstein, incumbents’ votes to not release the Epstein files, or occasionally references to the candidates in the files themselves.Some Republicans have decided to go on the attack, making their own attack ads about Democrats and sex offenders. These are often candidate-specific, such as an ad targeting Kansas Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, who was accused of mishandling sexual abuse allegations against a church camp volunteer. The ad was filmed in the style of the hit NBC show “To Catch a Predator.”The continued obsession with Epstein’s ties showcases the cultural capital brought in by invoking the growing boogeyman of Epstein, who has morphed into a catch-all for concerns about corruption and conspiracy theories over a shadowy pedophile elite. Strategists have noted the visceral reaction brought about by invoking threats against children, or a failure to properly protect children.Democrats and some far-right figures have coined the term “Epstein class” as a byword for a shadowy elite that indulges in pedophilia.NEW DEMOCRATIC AD IN IOWA SENATE TIES ASHLEY HINSON TO JEFFREY EPSTEINConspiracy theories and concerns over Epstein had largely faded from public view until July 2025, when the FBI and Department of Justice released a memo revealing they found no evidence of an incriminating “client list,” no evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people, and that he did, in fact, die by suicide. The announcement sparked outrage from much of Trump’s base toward then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, who proceeded to double down on the lack of any revelations around Epstein. The incident was one of the few times a cleavage showed between Trump and his base, a disconnect Democrats began to devote an immense amount of time and resources to capitalizing on.The Epstein files were ultimately released in November and December 2025 after heavy pressure. The files themselves largely confirmed the FBI and DOJ’s findings in the July memo, failing to showcase any evidence regarding an alleged incriminating client list, blackmail of prominent people, or that Epstein died by any method other than suicide. The main findings revealed the extent of his high-level connections and receipt of insider information, but the public focus has almost universally focused on the sex trafficking aspect and on trying to connect it to other prominent people.