Super PAC (Independent Expenditure-Only)
Lower Costs NOW
FEC committee C00961276. Last filed October 17, 2026.
FEC C00961276Last filed 2026-10-17Totals through 2026-09-30
The short version
- Raised $38.2M and spent $11.2M in the 2026 cycle, through September 30, 2026.
- Biggest target: $5.7M opposing Ken Paxton.
- $33.0M in general election independent expenditures reported in 24 and 48 hour notices.
- Largest donor on record: SMP (PAC), $23.0M.
What it is
Lower Costs NOW is registered with the FEC as a super PAC, connected to Ff PAC. In 2026 it has reported $30.7M in independent expenditures across 7 races, 100% of it helping Democrats.
- Lower Costs NOW ← $23.0M from SMP (60% of its reported receipts)
A super PAC can raise unlimited amounts from individuals, companies, unions and other groups. It cannot give money directly to candidates or coordinate its spending with them. It spends independently, mostly on ads.
Who is behind it
Affiliated committee of FF PAC (Future Forward PAC) per its FEC registration; Inside Political Money describes it as an affiliate of Future Forward Source
Issues it says it stands for
- Group name references lowering costs
- Inside Political Money reports independent expenditures supporting Democrats in six competitive Senate races
- no ad content found
Source: insidepoliticalmoney.com. These are the group's own stated positions or the subjects of its ads as reported, not an FEC record.
Registration
| Type | Super PAC (Independent Expenditure-Only) |
|---|---|
| Connected organization | Ff PAC |
| Treasurer | Mele, Steven |
| Registered in | DC |
| First filed with the FEC | September 10, 2026 |
| Website | lowercostsnow.org |
Who it supports and opposes
Independent expenditures from its 24 and 48 hour notices, 2026 cycle.
| Position | Candidate | Race | General | Primary or other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oppose | Ken Paxton R | TX Senate | $5.7M | $0 |
| Oppose | Jon Husted R | OH Senate | $4.8M | $0 |
| Support | Josh Turek D | IA Senate | $4.4M | $0 |
| Support | James Talarico D | TX Senate | $4.2M | $0 |
| Oppose | Michael a Jr Collins R | GA Senate | $2.8M | $0 |
| Oppose | Mike Rogers R | MI Senate | $2.7M | $0 |
| Support | T. Jonathan Jonathan Ossoff | GA Senate | $2.3M | $0 |
| Support | Abdul El-Sayed D | MI Senate | $1.5M | $0 |
| Oppose | Ashley Hinson R | IA Senate | $1.4M | $0 |
| Oppose | Roger Marshall R | KS Senate | $1.4M | $0 |
| Support | Mary Peltola D | AK Senate | $1.2M | $0 |
| Support | Adam Hamilton D | KS Senate | $520K | $0 |
| Support | Sherrod Brown D | OH Senate | $152K | $0 |
| Oppose | Dan Sullivan R | AK Senate | $11K | $0 |
Who funds it
Donor mix
| Source | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals giving over $200 (named) | $183K | 0% |
| PACs and other political committees | $23.0M | 60% |
| Transfers from affiliated committees | $15.0M | 39% |
| Total raised | $38.2M | 100% |
FEC committee totals, 2026 cycle, through September 30, 2026. The 10 largest donors include recent electronic filings, so their share can run ahead of these totals.
100% from 10 donors
Largest named donors
| Donor | Type | Given | Checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMP | PAC Recent filing | $23.0M | 2 |
| Ff PAC | PAC Recent filing | $15.0M | 2 |
| Future Forward USA Action | Organization No donor disclosure Recent filing | $183K | 1 |
Built from the largest receipts in reports filed electronically through September 30, 2026 (marked "Recent filing").
Donors marked "No donor disclosure" are companies, LLCs or nonprofits. Unless they are themselves political committees, they do not have to report where their money came from. The disclosed trail ends there.
Primary Sources
- FEC committee page: fec.gov/data/committee/C00961276
- FEC filings: all reports filed by Lower Costs NOW
- Independent expenditures: fec.gov
- Receipts: fec.gov