Who's spending big, and where, in most expensive election cycle ever

Advertising spending in this year's midterm elections is on track to be the largest in American history, topping even presidential years, according to AdImpact data cited by PBS NewsHour correspondent Lisa Desjardins. AdImpact's John Link put the total at about $7 billion so far, roughly $2 billion above the pace of the 2022 midterms and nearly $2. 5 billion beyond the 2020 presidential cycle.

Republicans hold the edge. They have booked $641 million in ads through Election Day, against $490 million for Democrats, a gap of 31 percent. Desjardins says GOP strategists are spending in safe seats, including in Arkansas and Florida, because incumbents are polling poorly. Texas, Ohio and Maine together account for a billion dollars in Republican-side spending, while Michigan and Georgia lead on the Democratic side. A leading Republican fund also moved money from North Carolina to Kansas, which she took as a sign the party sees North Carolina slipping.

Megadonors are more numerous and spend more. Andreessen Horowitz and its two leaders have put in some $115 million, Jeff Yass about $94 million, and George Soros and his family some $104 million.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →