NYs top 5 most expensive House races include a whopping $308M in total spending

An eye-watering $308 million was pumped into New York State congressional races during the 2026 midterm campaign  – including some $64 million spent in the Empire State’s most closely watched battleground.The fight for the suburban 17th Congressional District in New York’s Hudson Valley brought in $64 million between a heated Democratic Party primary and the general election, including spending by the campaigns and political action committee.About $22 million of that total was spent during the Democratic primary that saw military veteran and eventual election winner Cait Conley beat out Beth Davidson and Peter Chatzky, according to campaign finance records.Outside groups meanwhile pumped $30 million into the swing district, which includes parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties as well as Rockland and Putnam counties, according to filings.On Tuesday, Conley unseated two-term incumbent Rep.

Mike Lawler, who had won reelection in 2024 even as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris carried the 17th.The spending tips the race well over the record-breaking $38.4 spent in the 19th Congressional District in 2024, at the time the most expensive general election race on record.Meanwhile, several high-profile Big Apple primaries this year were so hard fought as to find themselves towards the top of the list, including the Manhattan slugfestto replace retiring Rep.Jerry Nadler in his 12th District seat.The Democrats vying in that race  and the groups backing them spent $56 million, records showed.

The majority of that – $43 million – was spent by super PAC’s like Jobs and Democracy PAC and Think Big.Those groups were heavily funded by artificial intelligence firms and their leaders, which spent heavily in the June primary as anxiety over the new tech was front-of-mind for Dem voters.Ultimately, Democrat Micah Lasher won the primary and general election.The race to succeed North Country Rep.

Elise Stefanik in the 21st District was the third most expen...