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PoliticsActive · 24h

2026 midterms hit $10 billion in ad spending, exceeding 2024 presidential cycle

Political advertising for the midterm election has surpassed the entire 2024 presidential cycle spend, with Republicans outspending Democrats by $133 million.

newest coverage 10h agosummary written 4h ago4 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • The 2026 midterms have reached at least $10 billion in tracked advertising spending, potentially surpassing the entire 2024 presidential cycle and making it the most expensive election since 2018.
  • Republicans are spending 11 percent more than Democrats overall and maintain a $133 million advertising advantage with three weeks before Election Day.
  • The spending figure excludes hundreds of millions in untracked political spending and does not include spending that will occur in the final weeks before the election.
  • Texas Senate races are consuming roughly $500 million in advertising alone, while the Senate Leadership Fund's network is the largest advertiser at $643 million projected spend.

Ken PaxtonKen Paxton Texas Republican Senate candidateJames TalaricoJames Talarico Texas Democratic Senate candidateTom SteyerTom Steyer California billionaire and former gubernatorial candidateSenate Leadership Fund Top Republican super PACAdImpact Media tracking firm

2026 midterms hit $10 billion in ad spending, exceeding 2024 presidential cycle
Boston Globe

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

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8 AM4 PMtodaynow · 5:33 AM ET
  1. 2

    Texas Senate and California governor races lead in ad spending

    The Texas Senate races are projected to consume about $500 million in advertising, driven by multiple expensive campaigns including GOP and Democratic primaries plus the general election matchup between Ken Paxton and James Talarico. California's gubernatorial race is projected at $346 million, partly due to billionaire Tom Steyer's $210 million primary spending.

    “The campaign is set to be more expensive than the 2024 presidential election cycle, and has already exceeded the ad total booked by the N.F.L. last season.”
    — The New York Times, News organization · source
  2. background

    Senate Leadership Fund emerges as top advertiser with $643 million network spend — The Senate Leadership Fund, the leading super PAC for Republican Senate candidates, is on track to spend approximately $310 million independently, with its affiliated network projected to reach around $643 million in total advertising.

  3. background

    Republicans hold $133 million advertising advantage over Democrats — Republican advertisers are spending approximately 11 percent more than Democratic ones across primaries and general elections combined. With just under three weeks before Election Day, Republicans maintain a $133 million advertising edge over Democrats.

  4. 1

    Advertising spending reaches $10 billion milestone

    With three weeks until Election Day, the 2026 midterms have already reached at least $10 billion in tracked advertising spending. The figure exceeds the total advertising during the 2025-2026 NFL season, all North American box office ticket sales last year, and the top 100 concert tours combined.

    1. 2 outlets The breathtaking cost of the midterms: $10 billion and counting on ads

      first by Boston Globe, 10h ago · also NYT Politics

  5. background

    AdImpact projects $11.6 billion total for 2026 midterms — Media tracking firm AdImpact released projections in June forecasting the 2026 midterm advertising costs would reach $11.6 billion, exceeding the $11.2 billion spent in 2024 and the $8.9 billion spent in 2022.