Another $968 Million Of Political Ads Booked Through Election Day.

Just over a week to go until Election Day, and projections of a record-setting year for political ad spending are nearly certain to come true. AdImpact says $9.08 billion has been spent by candidates and their allies to date, soaring past the $7.31 billion spent at this point four years ago. Experts predict this week will be the biggest seven-day period of them all with the airwaves awash in ads. Forecasters at AdImpact, which earlier projected a record-breaking $10.69 billion be spent, are likely feeling pretty good about their projections.During the past two weeks, AdImpact says it tracked $1.56 billion in political ad spending. The Philadelphia market got the most, with total spending by candidates and political groups of $76.7 million. It was followed by Los Angeles, at $70.2 million, and Detroit, at $69.5 million.

But the even more money is on the way. AdImpact says through Nov. 5, political advertisers have reserved $968 million in ad time. More than a quarter (27%) is tied to the Presidential race, with $71.8 million of ad time reserved in Pennsylvania. The ad tracking firm says another $37.6 million is booked related to Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race. But it is California where the most money for U.S. House races will be spent on advertising, with $45.7 million of ads reserved.

AdImpact says recent developments in two races is altering spending. In Texas, the Senate battle between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred has gotten close. As a result, $11.2 million is booked to run in ads through Election Day in the race—with the GOP currently responsible for two-thirds of that total.

The Senate race in Nebraska has also become competitive as incumbent Republican Deb Fischer is facing a surging Independent challenger Dan Osborn. AdImpact says $9.5 million of additional ad time is booked through Election Day.

In its latest update, AdImpact also points to some ballot initiatives that are driving spending. It says Florida’s abortion rights amendment proposal has seen $73.4 million in spending and reservations so far. That makes it the most expensive abortion amendment on record. By comparison, a similar proposal in Ohio saw $71.4 million in ads, and a Michigan proposal n 2022 saw $50.3 million.