Political Ad Spending Surges In Off-Year, Topping $146 Million Through March.

It is said that many politicians are now in an always-campaigning mode, and political ad spending may be heading in that direction. Despite being an off-year for federal elections, the ad tracking firm AdImpact reports overall political ad spending this year is outpacing the level of spending four years ago. It says $146 million has been spent through March, which is $37 million more than during 2021.

There are a handful of elections that are occurring this year, including New Jersey’s competitive governor’s race. AdImpact says $28.9 million has already been spent ahead of the June 10 primary. Nearly all of that — $26.6 million — has been spent by Democrats. Rep. Josh Gottheimer leads the list, with the candidate and his allies spending $11.7 million to date. He is followed by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who has had $8.1 million in ad support, followed by Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, with ads totaling $6.1 million.

Florida’s special elections to fill a pair of congressional seats are also boosting the ad spending total. The race to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), who became President Trump’s National Security Advisor, has seen $6.9 million of ad spending to date. AdImpact says Republicans have spent $3.7 million in the race backing Randy Fine, while Democrats have poured $3.2 million into the race to support Josh Weil.

Meanwhile, the race to fill the seat held by Rep. Matt Gaetz has had $3.9 million of ad spending. The analysis shows 77% of the spending has gone to support Democrat Gay Valimont in her race against GOP challenger Jimmy Patronis.

But no race is doing more to drive the total higher than the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which has become the most expensive state supreme court race on record in the U.S. AdImpact says there has been $69.9 million in spending and reservations so far, representing about a quarter of all political advertising so far this year. By comparison, in 2023 the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race saw $40.1 million in total spending. The good news for broadcasters is that, unlike federal candidates, these ads do not qualify for lowest unit rate.

The election tomorrow (April 1) is supposedly nonpartisan, but the ad spending totals reflect the reality of the faceoff, which will decide the political leaning of the court. Democrats have spent $37.7 million to support Susan Crawford, while Republicans have spent $32.1 million to back Brad Schimel.

AdImpact says outside groups are having a “significant impact” on the election, accounting for 44% of all ad spending. That includes Elon Musk’s Building America’s Future, which has spent $7.1 million, or 11% of total spending, supporting Schimel. “With Musk promising his involvement in future primaries and other elections around the country, WI’s Supreme Court race marks the first major test of Musk’s political influence after Donald Trump’s 2024 victory,” it says in a blog post. The analysis shows the political messaging in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election is largely mimicking the 2023 contest, with crime and abortion remaining the top issues in 2025.

Wisconsin has become a pivotal swing state, and the court race follows on the heels of massive spending last year. AdImpact says $470 million was spent last year to sway voters in the state’s Presidential, House and Senate elections.

In addition to the elections that are occurring, AdImpact says Elon Musk’s Building America’s Future political action committee has spent $471,000 in states including Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee that have targeted state legislature proposals over Medicaid drug pricing.