Despite ‘Off Year’ For Elections, Political Ads Hit All-Time High At $1.57 Billion.

It may be an “off year” on the political calendar, but ad dollars are pouring in. Tracking firm AdImpact reports that political advertisers have already spent or reserved $1.57 billion in airtime since January — an all-time high for an off-year election.

To put that in perspective, spending is not only outpacing the $1.05 billion tracked at this point four years ago, but it’s also running roughly $400 million ahead of where things stood during the 2024 cycle, which included both congressional and presidential contests.

This year’s record spending has come even though most states lack major races. But where contests are competitive, the ad dollars have poured in.

The New Jersey gubernatorial election leads all 2025 races, with $199.1 million spent through Oct. 31, according to AdImpact. That makes it the second-most expensive governor’s race on record, with $102.3 million spent during the general election between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

The No. 2 race isn’t for a candidate at all but for a ballot measure. California’s Proposition 50 — which would redraw the state’s congressional map — has generated $128 million in advertising through Oct. 31. Supporters have outspent opponents nearly 3-to-1, investing $92 million as the opposition scaled back in October.

Though it’s faded from headlines, Wisconsin’s April Supreme Court election ranks third for the year with $85.8 million in ad spending. It’s followed by Virginia’s gubernatorial race, to be decided today, where $78.3 million has been spent. The matchup between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears has seen two-thirds of ad spending go to back Spanberger’s campaign, which added nearly $1 million in new reservations this past Friday.

It is rare that a mayor’s race is among the most expensive, but New York City’s three-way battle for Gracie Mansion has seen $60.3 million spent through Oct. 31. That makes it the third-costliest mayoral race ever tracked. The 2020 Los Angeles mayoral race remains No. 1 at $78 million, followed by New York’s own 2021 contest at $64.2 million.

During the general election, AdImpact says Democratic-Socialist nominee Zohran Mamdani led ad spending with $5.8 million, followed by independent Andrew Cuomo at $5.7 million and Republican Curtis Sliwa at $2.9 million.

Another race drawing national attention is Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court contest, where Democrats are fighting to keep their majority on the seven-judge court. Through Friday, $14.9 million had been spent — making it only the seventh state Supreme Court election in U.S. history to surpass $10 million in ad spending.

Back in Virginia, another record has fallen. The state’s attorney general race has become the most expensive AG contest in U.S. history, with $38.4 million spent so far, according to AdImpact.

What had been a relatively low-profile race drew national attention after leaked text messages from Democratic candidate Jay Jones surfaced, referencing the former state House Speaker. Republicans quickly seized the moment, giving incumbent Jason Miyares a boost as GOP ad spending surged well ahead of Democrats’ investment.

The previous record for attorney general race spending was set just last year in North Carolina, where campaigns and outside groups poured $35.3 million into advertising.