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PACs › Super PAC (independent expenditure-only) › 2025–2026
DU
Defend US PAC
Groups spending on one raceGroups set up for one candidate or one race: no parent organization, and 80% or more of their spending on that race, for a candidate, against their rival, or both. A group that is part of an older organization (a trade, union or caucus PAC, or a party leaders’ super PAC shell) stays in its own place even when it spends on one race, and one that has spread across races is filed by its side.Political groups
Super PAC (independent expenditure-only)Arlington, VirginiaActive
FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026 · FEC bulk filing data · committee C00634261 · files quarterly
SummaryAt a glance
Why it exists
No statement of purpose found on its site.
Money
$10.3M raised, $10.1M spent, $319K cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
Who funds it
92% from donors giving over $200 · largest donor American Prosperity Caucus, Inc, $6M. See who funds it
Where it goes
$1.1M spent for candidates and $8.6M against them, most on TX-SEN ($5.6M) · $9.5K given to candidates and committees, the largest to Kentucky First Action ($9.5K) · 100% of its support to Republicans. See where it goes
Where it spendsWhich races and candidates is its money for or against?
For or against 3 candidates$9,709,885
In regular reports
$6M
2 candidates, through Oct 14, 2026
Newer notices
$3.7M
3 notices since Oct 14, 2026
James Talarico▼ Against · Senate, TX$3M of it in newer notices, latest Oct 22, 2026 · FEC filing$8.6M
Notices dated after Oct 14, 2026 are added; earlier ones are already in the regular reports.
Its wordsWhat does this committee say it is for?
No published list of positions
This committee’s site publishes no list of positions we could read, and we found no statement of why it exists. We do not write one for it.
Who it gives toWhich candidates and committees get its money?
Each part reads different filings, so counts and totals can differ.
Party support distribution$1.1M to 2 candidates
Direct PAC contributions and independent expenditures explicitly reported as support, by the party of the candidate they went to.
For candidates $1,098,791
Republican 100%
Against candidates $8,611,094
Democratic 100%
Spending against candidates is drawn on its own bar and left out of the support totals.
Contributions are reported money, not endorsements; a PAC giving to both parties is common.
Who this PAC gave to$9,500 in 1 payment
Every contribution on line 23 of the committee’s own Schedule B, which is the filing its summary totals are built from. That line covers federal candidates, party committees and other political committees alike, so a super PAC funding other super PACs appears here rather than under candidate giving.
By recipient
Line 23 contributions by kind and party of recipient
Recipient
Count
Amount
Other PACs and committees
1
$9.5K · 100%
All recipients
1
$9.5K
By the candidate’s state
No recipient here is matched to a candidate with a state on record.
Bars drawn to $9.5K, the largest gift total here. 2025–2026 filings.
Show candidate activity and the money network
Candidate and election activity as the recipients filed it
Nothing loaded
No candidate committee activity was returned for this PAC.
Candidate contribution rows come from candidate committee Schedule A filings, the same rows the party chart above counts.
Committee money network
Money moving between this committee and other committees, matched on FEC committee ID rather than the name each filing was typed under. Both sides exclude memo entries. The figures here count each committee once, from the itemized transfers read for this section, so they will not match the payment counts under Who this PAC gave to.
Committees funding this one
Committees that reported giving to this one on their own Schedule A filings, grouped by the giver’s committee ID.
Where the money came from $10,321,000 reported receipts
Tap a row with to see who gave.
Itemized (over $200)Donors who have given more than $200 this cycle, so the FEC itemizes (names) them.$9,494,00092%
Largest donors
American Prosperity Caucus, IncOne contribution on Sep 23, 2026 · Organization · ATLANTA, GA$6,000,000
America Works Fund Inc7 contributions, latest Aug 24, 2026 · Organization · SAN ANTONIO, TX$2,275,000
American Exceptionalism Institute, Inc3 contributions, latest May 14, 2026 · Organization · 501(c)(4) social welfare organization · does not disclose its donors · ARLINGTON, VA$825,000
Conservative Agenda for America, IncOne contribution on Apr 13, 2026 · Organization · STERLING, VA$250,000
A Public Voice2 contributions, latest May 7, 2026 · Organization · 501(c)(4) social welfare organization · does not disclose its donors · THORNVILLE, OH$70,000
A Public Voice, IncOne contribution on Apr 30, 2025 · Organization · 501(c)(4) social welfare organization · does not disclose its donors · THORNVILLE, OH$50,000
ReliableOne contribution on May 11, 2026 · Organization · ARLINGTON, TX$20,000
Bowden MurrayOne contribution on May 15, 2026 · EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN · HANOVER COMPANY · HUSTON, TX$4,000
A donor who gave several times appears once. The 8 largest donors by total given are listed. In all, 17 itemized contributions were filed this cycle, totaling $9.5M. FEC contributor lists are public records and cannot be used for commercial solicitation.
PACs and other committeesPolitical action committees and other candidates' committees.$827,0008%
Committees that gave
American Values First1 receipt, latest Aug 7, 2026 · Super pac (independent expenditure-only)$600,000
Affordable Energy Fund PAC1 receipt, latest Mar 3, 2026 · Super pac (independent expenditure-only)$95,000
Building a Strong America1 receipt, latest Mar 3, 2026 · Super pac (independent expenditure-only)$15,000
Safeguard Liberty PAC1 receipt, latest Mar 3, 2026 · Super pac (independent expenditure-only)$2,000
The 7 largest committees by total given are listed. Counted from the givers' own filings and this committee's lines for them, whichever is larger, which can run above the total this committee reports.
Total reported receipts $10,321,000
Every dollar the committee reported receiving this cycle, split by the source the FEC filing attributes it to. FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026.
Where the money traces to $10.3M followed back through up to 3 committees
3.1% to named individuals, 84% to organizations, 9.8% to tax-exempt organizations that need not name their donors, 3% to committees we could not follow.
Gave directly$9.5M 92%
Gave directly
Name
Amount
American Prosperity Caucus, IncOrganization · 58%
$6,000,000
America Works Fund IncOrganization · 22%
$2,275,000
American Exceptionalism Institute, IncOrganization · tax-exempt organization that need not name its donors · 8%
$825,000
Conservative Agenda for America, IncOrganization · 2.4%
$250,000
Affordable Energy Fund PACCommittee, not followed further · 0.9%
$95,000
A Public VoiceOrganization · tax-exempt organization that need not name its donors · 0.7%
$70,000
Who donated: where they live, their employers and jobs
Where the donors live $9,494,000 placed by state
Loading the map
Tap or hover over a state, or focus the map and use the arrow keys, to read its total. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll to zoom.
under $240K
$240K+
$960K+
$2.2M+
$3.8M+
none
Top states
Top donor states
Name
Amount
Georgia1 contribution · 63%
$6,000,000
Texas9 contributions · 24%
$2,299,000
Virginia4 contributions · 11%
$1,075,000
Ohio3 contributions · 1.3%
$120,000
By the state each contributor wrote on the filing. The FEC aggregates every Schedule A line together, so one committee or organization transfer can account for a whole state. Contributors who have given $200 or less this cycle are not itemized and cannot be placed on a map. The FEC’s grouping also counts joint-fundraising memo lines, so these rows can add up to more than the itemized total.
Donors’ employers as filed
Donors’ employers
Employer as filed
Amount
Hanover Company1 contribution · 100% of ranked
$4,000
Itemized receipts grouped by the words contributors filed. The FEC aggregates every Schedule A line here, so committee and organization money sits alongside individuals; this is not an industry classification. The FEC’s grouping also counts joint-fundraising memo lines, so these rows can add up to more than the itemized total.
SpendingWhere does the money go?
How the spending splits $10,075,310 reported
Tap a row with to see who was paid.
Independent expendituresSpending to support or oppose a candidate, made without coordinating with them.$5,965,93159%
Spent for or against
James TalaricoOppose · 4 records · latest Oct 11, 2026$5,615,931
Every dollar this committee reported spending this cycle, split by the lines it reports against. Open a line to see who was actually paid on it. FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026.
What the payments were for $9,474,783 itemized
These are the payments the committee itemized, including its independent expenditures, which are filed against the candidate each was for or against rather than as payments to a vendor. Open a category to see which candidates its independent spending went to, and in support or opposition.
Tap a row with to see what was paid for.
Printing, mail, and shippingPrinted literature, direct mail, postage, design, and delivery.$5.6M of it was independent spending against James Talarico$6,350,40567%
Filed as
Direct MailIndependent spending in opposition to James Talarico$5,615,931
STATE IE - DIRECT MAIL$683,373
LOCAL IE - DIRECT MAIL$47,721
LOCAL IE - YARD SIGNS$3,380
Paid to
Minute Mail Consulting Group, LLC
Spending over time
$10.1M spent from Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Most in one report: $8.5M, Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026.
$10.1M1
Jan 2025Nov 2026
1Nov 3, 2026 general election, TX-SEN$5.6M of its independent spending was aimed at it
The running total of what the committee’s FEC reports say it spent, independent expenditures included, with a point at the end of each report. The line is straight between reports because a report gives one total for its whole period. Numbered lines mark the elections that drew the most independent spending. Each expenditure counts toward the next election on its seat after the day it was made, and a seat is named when it drew at least a tenth of that spending. The line stops at the latest report, through Oct 14, 2026, at the dashed rule; elections after it are marked where they fall.
Each report’s total
Oct 1 – Oct 14, 2026$76,903
Jul 1 – Sep 30, 2026$8,485,624
Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026$1,113,147
Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2026$275,175
Jul 1 – Dec 31, 2025$2,917
Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2025$121,545
Show other payments: transfers, refunds and the rest
A name search for “DEFEND US” in Lobbying Disclosure Act filings found no issues reported. FEC and the Senate share no organization identifier, so lobbying is matched by name; a sponsor that lobbies under another name is not found.
Defend US PAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a Super PAC (independent expenditure-only). Official FEC summary: Federal Election Commission committee record.
Pages quoted 0 pages
No pages quoted
Nothing from this committee’s or its sponsor’s site is quoted yet.
$9.5K across 1 recipient committee, or <0.1% of everything this committee reports spending.
Built from FEC Schedule A and Schedule B filings for the selected cycle. A committee only appears here if the money was itemized under its FEC committee ID.
Through American Values First
Republican & conservative groups
$396.6K 3.8%
Then Club for Growth ActionTaxes & limited government$216.4K 2.1%
Then Club for Growth Action
Name
Amount
Restoration of America PACCommittee, not followed further · Megadonors ($1M+) · 1.3%
$133,684
Jeff YassPerson · Managing Director, SIG · Bala Cynwyd, PA · also behind 15 other groups · 0.8%
$82,691
Then School Freedom FundEducation & school choice (proposed)$180.2K 1.7%
Then School Freedom Fund
Name
Amount
Jeff YassPerson · Managing Director, SIG · Bala Cynwyd, PA · also behind 15 other groups · 1.7%
$180,203
99 smaller sources, $396.9K in all (3.8%), are not listed.
Each committee that gave is followed to where its own money came from, in proportion to what it received: a committee that got half its money from one person is counted as passing half of what it gave on to that person. Each channel shows the committee the money came through and its place in the money tree. It shows who stood behind the money, not what that money was for, and an organization that need not name its donors ends the trail. It stops at a person, an organization, a committee with nothing on file here, or 3committees deep. A person who gave by more than one route appears under each, a name filed two ways may appear twice, and a person's job and city are as they filed them. "Also behind" counts the other groups, among those that moved $100,000 or more into races, in which $100,000 or more traces to the same person, other than those this money came through or went on to.
A further $9,490,000 came from donors whose answer names no employer (blank), so it is not ranked.
Donors’ occupations as filed
Donors’ occupations
Occupation as filed
Amount
Executive Chairman1 contribution · 100% of ranked
$4,000
A further $9,490,000 came from donors whose answer names no occupation (blank), so it is not ranked. Itemized receipts grouped by the words contributors filed. The FEC aggregates every Schedule A line here, so committee and organization money sits alongside individuals; this is not an industry classification. The FEC’s grouping also counts joint-fundraising memo lines, so these rows can add up to more than the itemized total.
Advertising and mediaBroadcast, digital, and print advertising, and the media buying behind it.$350K of it was independent spending for Joshua Logan McKee$2,414,17225%
Filed as
STATE IE - TELEVISION ADVERTISING$1,909,971
Television AdvertisingIndependent spending in support of Joshua Logan McKee$350,000
STATE IE - DIGITAL ADVERTISING$119,637
STATE IE - RADIO ADVERTISING$25,000
STATE IE - RADIO CONTENT PRODUCTION$4,000
LOCAL IE - DIGITAL ADVERTISING$3,564
ADVERTISING CONTENT STRATEGY CONSULTING$2,000
Paid to
Vaulter LLCIndependent spending: $350K in support of Joshua Logan McKee$2,149,971
Medium Buying, LLC$125,000
The Political Firm$46,720
Victory Enterprises, Inc$34,000
Direct Edge Campaigns, LLC$30,000
Cross Screen Media, LLC$13,637
OtherPayments whose filed description does not match any category above. Every one is listed so it can be read directly.$499,3605.3%
Filed as
STATE IE - TELEVISION ADVERTSIING$498,227
LOCAL IE - PALM CARDS$1,133
Paid to
American Political Consulting$498,227
Axiom Strategies$1,133
Digital and technologyWebsites, hosting, software subscriptions, databases, email, and texting platforms.$111,7381.2%
Filed as
STATE IE - TEXT MESSAGING$87,577
LOCAL IE - TEXT MESSAGING$24,161
Paid to
Honey FOX Strategies$79,000
Remington Research Group$21,245
Direct Edge Campaigns, LLC$7,613
Guidepost Strategic Partners$2,917
Battleground Impact$964
Polling and researchSurveys, opposition research, voter file work, and analytics.$48,2500.5%
Filed as
POLLING & RESEARCH$47,000
TEXT MESSAGE SURVEY$1,250
Paid to
Art and Copy Partners LLC$47,000
Remington Research Group$1,250
Field and canvassingDoor-to-door canvassing, phone banks and calls to voters, petition and signature gathering, and get-out-the-vote work.$23,0000.2%
Filed as
LOCAL IE - GRASSROOTS CANVASSING$23,000
Paid to
Vanguard Field Strategies$23,000
Consulting and strategyStrategic, political, legal, and compliance consulting, and campaign management.$18,0000.2%
Filed as
COMPLIANCE CONSULTING$18,000
Paid to
FEC Compliance Group, LLC$18,000
Given to othersContributions to other candidates, party committees, and PACs.$9,5000.1%
Filed as
CONTRIBUTION$9,500
Paid to
Kentucky First Action$9,500
Taxes, fees, and bank chargesPayroll and income taxes, filing fees, bank and merchant processing charges.$358<0.1%
Filed as
BANK FEES$358
Paid to
Chain Bridge Bank$358
Total itemized disbursements $9,474,783
Every itemized payment the committee reported this cycle, sorted by what it said each one was for. The categories are ours; the wording they are matched against is the committee’s own. Open a category to read the filed descriptions and who was paid. FEC filings through Oct 14, 2026.
All 97 itemized payments filed this cycle. Spending below the itemization threshold is not filed line by line.
Largest vendors
Largest vendors
Name
Amount
Minute Mail Consulting Group, LLC3 payments · 56% of all spending
$5,615,931
Vaulter LLC4 payments · 21% of all spending
$2,149,971
American Political Consulting1 payment · 4.9% of all spending
$498,227
Direct Edge Campaigns, LLC26 payments · 3.7% of all spending
$373,731
The Political Firm8 payments · 3.5% of all spending
$351,170
Medium Buying, LLC3 payments · 1.2% of all spending
$125,000
Honey FOX Strategies2 payments · 0.8% of all spending
$79,000
Victory Enterprises, Inc7 payments · 0.7% of all spending
$66,828
The people, firms and committees paid the most, across every kind of payment. Each share is of everything the committee reported spending this cycle, not only the itemized payments above. A payee that is itself a committee links to its own profile.