AdImpact: Political Ad Spending For 2026 Cycle Nears $1.1 Billion.

AdImpact says it has tracked about $1.067 billion in political spending across broadcast, cable, radio, digital, satellite, and CTV so far this year.

In its recently released 2025-2026 Political Projections, it projects $10.8 billion in political spending for the entire 2026 cycle. It says that of the $1 billion spent thus far, $461 million is for 2025 races, with $605 million earmarked for 2026 contents. The top overall races of the current cycle, AdImpact says, are for New Jersey governor ($118 million), the Wisconsin Supreme Court ($80 million), Healthcare Issue 2026 ($52 million), Immigration Issue 2026 ($43 million), and the New York City mayoral race ($39 million). 

Here’s the data for all 2025 and 2026 races, except the Wisconsin Supreme Court, per AdImpact:

Top Advertisers: U.S. Department of Homeland Security ($43 million), Spanberger for Virginia Governor ($25 million), One Nation ($24 million), Greater Garden State ($19 million), Americans for Prosperity ($18 million).

Advertiser Type Breakout: Issue advocacy advertisers (73%), candidates (27%).

Top Teams: Pro-Healthcare ($47 million), Anti-Immigration ($40 million), Pro-Mikie Sherrill ($34 million), Pro-Democrat ($31 million), Pro-Big Beautiful Bill ($26 million), Pro-Abigail Spanberger ($25 million).

Party Breakout: Democrat ($450 million), Independent ($319 million), Republican ($298 million).

Top Negatively Targeted Advertisers: Mamdani for New York City Mayor ($5.5 million), Earle-Sears for Virginia Governor ($5.5 million), Ossoff for Georgia Senate ($4.5 million), Jones for Virginia Attorney General ($4.3 million), Ciattarelli for New Jersey Governor ($2.7 million).

Top Markets: New York, NY ($136 million), Washington, DC ($108 million), Philadelphia ($35 million), Los Angeles ($18 million), Norfolk-Portsmouth ($16 million).

Media Breakout: Broadcast ($334 million), Digital ($280 million), Cable ($228 million), CTV ($190 million), Radio ($29 million), Satellite ($4 million).