The new election cycle is underway, and there’s already plenty of ad dollars being placed. While it’s unlikely to top the massive $11.1 billion record-setting total during the presidential cycle, AdImpact says $61.1 million worth of ads have already aired in the current cycle.
The most active race is in Wisconsin, where an April 1 election will fill an opening on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and decide the political leaning of the court. Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel are running for a 10-year term, to succeed retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. The race is officially nonpartisan, but the state’s Democratic Party has endorsed Crawford and Republicans are backing Schimel, a former Wisconsin attorney general. AdImpact says $10.8 million has been spent on advertising, including $2.41 million by Republicans and $2.37 by Democrats, with the rest from non-aligned group.
The other big race is the battle to succeed New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who is being term-limited out of office. AdImpact says about $8 million has been spent on that race — the vast majority in the Democratic primary, where nearly $7.7 million worth of advertising has been bought.
The changes underway in Washington are also spawning plenty of spending in that market on several key issues. The analysis shows $2.7 million has been spent on advertising related to agricultural issues, and $2.5 million has been spent on tax issues, while energy-related ads have totaled $2.2 million to date.
Based on spending in the current election cycle so far, AdImpact says the New York market has seen the most political ad spending at $7.43 million. Washington ranks a close second at $7.14 million, followed by Milwaukee ($2.37 million), Atlanta ($1.86 million), Philadelphia ($1.68 million), and Green Bay-Appleton, WI ($1.54 million). It also says $1.26 million has gone toward national advertising efforts.
Based on a review of ad creative, AdImpact says the top issues mentioned in ads for 2025 races include President Trump, followed by abortion rights, and crime. Other hot buttons include housing, education, and healthcare.
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