Political ads · 2026 · MN

Minnesota House District 4 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

Betty McCollum won · 73.1% to 26.8% · Called by AP on Nov 4

Betty McCollum (Democrat) and Paul Wikstrom (Republican) are the nominees for Minnesota's 4th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Betty McCollum is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Betty McCollum's campaign had raised $1.5 million (through October 14, 2026) and Paul Wikstrom's campaign $65,000 (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $10 for Betty McCollum and $0 against; $286 for Paul Wikstrom and $0 against.

Betty McCollum (DEM, incumbent), Paul Wikstrom (REP). 1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every Minnesota ballot: 1 statewide ballot measure → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in Minnesota

From Minnesota's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration Register by Tue, Oct 13 (registration closed during the 20 days before the election, so last day is the 21st day before; online, mail, or in person). Same-day registration: at your polling place with proof of residence (ID, approved document, or a registered voter vouching) (passed)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗
Early voting in person Fri, Sep 18 to Mon, Nov 2 (in-person absentee during the 46 days before; ballot-into-tabulator early voting in the last 18 days (from Oct 16)) (passed)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗
By mail Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Mon, Nov 2 (any time up to the day before the election; mail time makes a late request risky); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by 8 p.m. Election Day; envelopes arriving later are marked late and not counted) (passed)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗
Election Day Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (passed)Source: revisor.mn.gov ↗
ID at the polls No ID needed if registered; voter signs the polling place roster. Election Day registrants need proof of residenceSource: revisor.mn.gov ↗
Check your registration and polling place ↗ Minnesota's official election site ↗

Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Betty McCollum (DEM, incumbent)

Raised
$1.5M through 2026-10-14 individuals $938K · PACs $593K · party $1,000 · cash on hand $526K
Outside spending
$10 supporting McCollum · latest reported 2026-04-20
Largest outside spenders
SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION — $10 supporting McCollum
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
105 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
  • 3M COMPANY PAC $10K
  • AAR CORP. PAC $7,500
  • ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • ACCELINT HOLDINGS, LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,000
  • AECOM PAC $1,000
  • AEROVIRONMENT, INC PAC $7,000
  • AEVEX HOLDING LLC PAC (AEVEX PAC) $2,500
  • AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
  • AM GENERAL LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AM GENERAL PAC) $5,000
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AAJ PAC) $5,000
  • AMERICAN CAR RENTAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,000
  • AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVT. EMPL. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E $10K
  • AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION $10K
  • AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION PHYSICAL THERAPY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PT-PAC) $1,000
  • AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ACTION FUND PAC $4,000
  • AMGEN INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • ANDURIL INDUSTRIES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ANDURIL PAC) $4,500
  • APPLIED INTUITION, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (APPLIED PAC) $2,500
  • APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ARAPAC) $10K
  • ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • BAE SYSTEMS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (BAE SYSTEMS USA PAC) $7,500
  • BAKER DONELSON BEARMAN CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ PC PAC $2,000
  • BEST BUY CO., INC EMPLOYEE POLITICAL FORUM $2,000
  • BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY RAILPAC (BNSF RAILPAC) $2,500
  • BRACEPAC $2,500
  • BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND TRAINMEN PAC FUND $4,500
  • BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS $2,500
  • BY FARMERS, FOR FARMERS PAC LAND O'LAKES, INC. PAC (BY FARMERS, FOR FARMERS PAC) $1,000
  • CAP-PAC SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND OF NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION, INC. $10K
  • CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS $10K
  • CHAOS INDUSTRIES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CHAOS PAC) $3,500
  • COVENANT INDUSTRIES INC. PAC $2,500
  • CROPLIFE AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • CUBIC CORPORATION EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • CUMMINS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CIPAC) $3,000
  • CURTISS WRIGHT CORPORATION EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • D.R.I.V.E. - DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT VOTER EDUCATION (THE PAC OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS) $2,000
  • DELOITTE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • DELTA AIR LINES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • DEMOCRATS WIN FUND $1,000
  • ECOLAB INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $6,000
  • EMPLOYEES OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION PAC $7,500
  • EMPLOYEES OF ONEBRIEF, INC. ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • EMPLOYEES OF RTX CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC. PAC $1,000
  • GENERAL ATOMICS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GDC PAC) $10K
  • GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GEPAC) $7,500
  • GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GM PAC) $1,000
  • HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE COMPANY PAC $5,000
  • HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $10K
  • HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • HUMANETICS CORPORATION PAC $10K
  • HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES PAC (HIIPAC) $3,000
  • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC $5,000
  • INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES POLITICAL ACTION TOGETHER POLITICAL COMM $2,500
  • KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KRATOS PAC) $10K
  • L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. PAC $10K
  • LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND $50
  • LEIDOS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • LEONARDO DRS PAC $5,000
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION EMPLOYEES' POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,500
  • MANTECH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION $1,500
  • NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COM (NARFE-PAC) $1,500
  • NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC $10K
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BRANCH 9 P.A.L. $1,000
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
  • NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
  • NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION SOVEREIGNTY PAC (NIGA PAC) $1,000
  • NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC $1,000
  • NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION $5,000
  • NIRON MAGNETICS PAC $10K
  • OSHKOSH CORPORATION EMPLOYEES PAC (OCEPAC) $2,500
  • PARKER -HANNIFIN CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • PARSONS CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
  • PERATON CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (A.K.A. 'PERATON PAC') $5,000
  • POLARIS INDUSTRIES POLITICAL PARTICIPATION PROGRAM $2,500
  • REVEAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. PAC $5,000
  • SAAB, INC. EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SAAB PAC) $2,500
  • SECURIAN, INC PAC $2,500
  • SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) $5,000
  • SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,500
  • SMART TD PAC $3,000
  • SOLVENTUM CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
  • SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS PAC) $2,500
  • STARKEY PAC $2,500
  • STINSON PAC $2,500
  • TARGET CORPORATION CITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM (TARGETCITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM) $2,500
  • TEXTRON INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • THE BOEING COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
  • THE CENTER FOR FREETHOUGHT EQUALITY PAC $250
  • THE FARM CREDIT COUNCIL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
  • TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $1,000
  • UNITED AUTO WORKERS V CAP $5,000
  • VANTOR PARENT INC. PAC (VANTOR PAC) $5,000
  • WINNING STRATEGIES WASHINGTON PAC $2,500
  • WOMEN WINNING FEDERAL PAC $1,000
  • XCEL ENERGY EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (XPAC) $2,500
  • Y COMBINATOR MANAGEMENT, LLC POLITICAL COMMITTEE (LITTLE TECH PAC) $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

  • An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in MN; or it ran mostly in MN and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
  • Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
  • A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
  • Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
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  • Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.

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