2026 Midterm Ad Spending Tops $10 Billion, Headed for $11.6 Billion
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 14
2026 Midterm Ad Spending Tops $10 Billion, Headed for $11.6 Billion
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 14
Summary
$10 billion in 2026 midterm ad spending was officially surpassed on Wednesday, putting the cycle on pace to outspend even the 2024 presidential race.
AdImpact still projects a final $11.6 billion total, above $11.2 billion in 2024 and $8.9 billion in the 2022 midterms, as the fight for power in Trump’s second term intensifies.
Republican advertisers hold an 11% spending edge overall and a $133 million advantage over Democrats with just under three weeks until Election Day.
Texas has the costliest Senate contest at about $500 million, while California’s governor race leads state contests at roughly $346 million after Tom Steyer poured about $210 million into a losing primary.
The Senate Leadership Fund is the top advertiser at about $310 million, or roughly $643 million including affiliated groups, and the tally still excludes other political spending beyond tracked ads.