Political Ad Spending Tops A Record $11 Billion.

Political advertising has shattered another milestone, surpassing $11 billion in aired spending for the 2025-26 election cycle as an extraordinary October surge pushes the market into record territory. AdImpact says $3.84 billion in political ads aired during October alone, up 54% from October 2022. With future advertising reservations included, the cycle has now surpassed $11.6 billion, making it the most expensive political advertising cycle on record — even without a presidential election.

The latest AdImpact figures show $11.15 billion in political advertising had aired through Oct. 30, compared with $7.68 billion at the same point in the 2021-22 cycle. That’s an increase of $3.47 billion, or approximately 45%, illustrating how much the political advertising marketplace has expanded in just four years.

AdImpact's cycle-to-date totals include the two-year period that included the campaigning and primary season that began in 2025 right through Election Day in 2026. It reports the current cycle has now surpassed the $11.2 billion spent during the 2023-24 presidential election cycle, which included $3.2 billion in presidential advertising alone. In other words, federal and state elections have generated enough advertising demand to surpass a presidential election cycle without a White House race on the ballot.

The final full month before Election Day delivered an extraordinary acceleration in political advertising. AdImpact says October's $3.84 billion in aired spending was up 219% from September, meaning political advertising more than tripled in a single month. October’s total was also 54% higher than October 2022, underscoring how much more money is flowing into the marketplace than during the previous midterm election.

Texas and Ohio were virtually tied for the largest statewide advertising totals during October, with $402.4 million and $402.3 million, respectively. California followed at $361.2 million.

Among individual markets, Detroit led with $154.5 million in political ads, followed by Los Angeles ($126.8 million) and Cleveland ($119.8 million).

The record-setting cycle is being fueled by unprecedented spending in congressional elections, with both Senate and House contests attracting enormous advertising budgets. AdImpact says Republicans have spent more than $1.1 billion targeting ten competitive Senate general elections, outspending Democrats by $288.5 million. That represents a reversal from the previous two election cycles, when Democrats finished with spending advantages in battleground Senate contests.

The two largest spending gaps are in Ohio and Texas, where Republican advertisers have outspent Democrats. Much of that advantage has come from outside groups rather than the candidates' own campaigns.

The scale of Senate advertising has also produced new records for individual elections. Texas has attracted more than $557 million in spending and reservations across its Senate primary, runoff and general election, while Ohio's special Senate election has surpassed $500 million. It is the first cycle in which two nonpresidential contests have crossed the half-billion-dollar threshold.

House advertising is also reaching unprecedented levels, although spending is much more evenly divided between the parties. Republicans have spent $830.4 million on House general elections, compared with $825.9 million by Democrats. That puts combined spending at more than $1.65 billion, with the two parties separated by less than $5 million.

The House spending figures are particularly significant for local broadcasters because advertising in congressional districts can generate demand across a wider range of markets, including areas that do not typically attract the largest statewide political campaigns.

The spending surge extends well beyond Congress. Gubernatorial advertising has also reached unprecedented levels. AdImpact previously reported that gubernatorial advertising reached $2.4 billion during the 2025-26 cycle.

California's gubernatorial election has become the most expensive governor's race on record, attracting approximately $349 million in spending and reservations. Georgia's contest has reached $297 million, while Ohio's has surpassed $202 million.

With $11.15 billion already aired and additional reservations still on the books, the 2025-26 cycle has established a new benchmark for political advertising — one achieved without a presidential campaign driving the market. AdImpact has forecast a record $11.6 billion in total spending for the cycle, including $273 million for radio.