NEW YORK — Rep. Max Rose has vastly outspent his Republican rival Nicole Malliotakis.

But he has another advantage, too.

What You Need To Know

  • More than $18 million from super PACs have flooded the 11th Congressional District

  • The vast majority of that money has benefited Rep. Max Rose

  • Those super PACS have flooded the airwaves, spending millions on television advertising

  • It's one of the most costly races in the country for these groups

Outside groups have poured millions of dollars into the district, flooding the airwaves. Numbers from the Federal Election Commission show these groups have spent more than $18 million on this race alone. NY1 has learned the majority of that cash has gone towards supporting the freshman congressman.

Ten political action committees have spent millions of dollars on their own to benefit Rose. They’ve spent $11.4 million so far. 

Meanwhile, just three groups have spent to further Malliotakis’s chances of winning. Their tab: almost $6.6. million. 

No one has spent more on the race than House Majority PAC, the Democratic Super PAC aimed at holding onto the House majority. It’s spent $7.7. million to help Rose.

One of its top donors is Mike Bloomberg. 

“It's a really close race and Congressman Rose is a great member who is a terrific advocate for his district and fights for his constituents, and we want to make sure he’s back in Congress,” said Abby Curran Horrell, the executive director of House Majority PAC. "And it's a really expensive media market in which to communicate."

On the other side, the GOP-backed Congressional Leadership Fund has spent more than $5.1 million to boost Malliotakis. 

A spokesman sent us this statement when we asked about the spending: 

“This district was always one of CLF’s most promising opportunities, but Max Rose’s dishonesty made it all the more likely he’ll be looking for work on November 4th.”

The fund is expected to have a roving billboard following Rose this week, attacking him everywhere he goes.

On the ground, experts question whether all of these ads and all of this spending will really make a difference.

“Probably the dollars are being in some sense wasted,” said College of Staten Island Professor Richard Flanagan. "I think a lot of the vote is locked in and the race will be determined by turnout."

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