State attorneys general (AGs) are increasingly influential in antitrust matters, leading to record corporate donations to their political fundraising groups. In 2025, the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) raised $29.3 million, and the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) brought in $28 million. These figures represent all-time annual fundraising records for both groups, highlighting a significant increase in donor interest in these state-level races. DAGA, for instance, doubled its usual fundraising at this stage of the election cycle and aims to raise over $50 million in 2026.
Technology companies, including OpenAI, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Elon Musk's xAI, have contributed over $2 million combined to DAGA and RAGA since early 2025. This surge in donations comes as AGs across both parties are actively scrutinizing and suing AI companies over issues like harm to children and deceptive safety claims. For example, Google, Meta, and Amazon each donated substantial, matching amounts to both DAGA and RAGA in the second quarter of 2026, including $250,000 from Google, $200,000 from Meta, and $125,000 from Amazon. Additionally, xAI gave $25,000 to DAGA in May, while Anthropic contributed $250,000 to RAGA.
Since its founding in 2014, RAGA has received over $83.4 million from public companies and their trade associations, representing more than 50% of its total $165.8 million fundraising through 2023. DAGA, in contrast, raised $110.8 million in the same period, with less than $54 million coming from public companies and their trade associations. RAGA has allocated nearly $80 million to state attorney general races across 23 states, including significant amounts in Arizona ($10.3 million), Kentucky ($8.8 million), Nevada ($7.3 million), and Virginia ($9.3 million). These donations underscore the growing recognition among donors and corporations of the power wielded by state AGs, not just in state policy but also as a stepping stone to higher office.
The increasing involvement of state AGs in areas traditionally handled by federal agencies has not been without controversy. The Trump Justice Department, for instance, criticized state AGs for suing to block corporate mergers that federal authorities had already approved, arguing that the federal government should lead on national business deals. Despite these criticisms, the financial support for AG races continues to grow, with a total of 30 seats on the ballot in 2026. Donors, including those from the tech, tobacco, and legal sectors, are channeling millions into these campaigns, reflecting the rising stature of the attorney general position in national policy and its potential as a springboard for higher political office.
