In the three weeks after Labor Day, $56.95M has been spent on #MISen advertising. 🔵 Abdul El-Sayed $8.69M 🔴 Mike Rogers $0.28M 🟡 Outside Groups: $39.14M (68.7% of spending) All in all, only 39.5% of ad spending favors the Dem candidate.

Ad spending in congressional and gubernatorial races in the three weeks following Labor Day totaled nearly $1 billion — with a majority (58%) going to broadcast ad spending. 20% of advertising cycle-to-date came during that period.

Two recent Supreme Court rulings have allowed parties and candidates to work together on unlimited election spending at less expensive rates for advertising, while parties can accept much larger contributions than candidates. Parties and candidates are starting to take advantage. 1/🧵

And this ⬇️ was as of early September…stay tuned for updates #2026midterms

Wesleyan Media Project@wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 4d ago

We’ve tracked about $80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI. What we found has surprised us. theconversation.com/weve-tracked...

In the three weeks after Labor Day, there have been about 250,000 ad airings in the House and almost 300,000 ad airings in Senate races. This volume of advertising on broadcast television greatly surpasses the volume in the previous three midterm election cycles.

The @wesmediaproject.bsky.social "tracked about $80 million in spending on almost 170 unique [political] ads that use AI" this election cycle. "Republican sponsors—both candidates and interest groups—are much more likely to use AI than are Democratic sponsors." @efranklinfowler.bsky.social

We’ve tracked $80M of spending on almost 170 AI‑generated political ads this year – it’s weird - Salon.com

Thanks to a patchwork of state legislation, many of these ads do not disclose the use of AI at all

salon.com

We’ve tracked about $80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI. What we found has surprised us. theconversation.com/weve-tracked...

We’ve tracked $80M of spending on almost 170 AI-generated political ads this year – it’s weird

Almost 170 ads and $80 million in spending and only 31% with a disclaimer: Here’s what researchers found when they tracked AI in this year’s campaign ads.

theconversation.com

Outside groups are dominating the ad spending landscape this year, particularly in Senate races. In Senate races, outside groups account for 72% of ad spending in the three weeks following Labor Day. In House races, outside groups accounted for 49% of spending during that period.

Twenty U.S. House races have seen over $5 million in advertising spending during the three weeks since Labor Day. And two House races — #IA01 and #CO08 — have *each* seen over $9 million in spending during that period.

“I’m struggling to recall any ads like these in the past. When the U.S. government has funded paid ads in the past, it’s generally been to make the public aware of particular benefits they may be eligible for, whereas the recent ads closely resemble campaign ads.” – @tnridout.bsky.social

In the three weeks after Labor Day, $90.21M has been spent on #OHSen advertising. 🔵 Sherrod Brown: $10.17M 🔴 Jon Husted: $0.01M (+ $8M in coordinated spending) 🟡 Outside Groups: $69.74M (77.3% of spending) All in all, only 36.1% of ad spending favors the Dem candidate.

GOP gubernatorial candidates have an ad spending advantage in the five races for Governor that have seen the most spending in the three weeks since Labor Day. % of pro-Democratic ad spending by race: #OHGov – 34.8% #WIGov – 34.8% #TXGov – 15.4% #GAGov – 7.5% #FLGov – 5.9%

Nine Senate races featured $20M+ in ad spending in the 3 weeks after Labor Day: • Pro-Republican spending exceeded pro-Democratic spending in eight. • Outside groups made up the majority of spending in each. • Republican candidates have spent relatively little, relying on coordinated spending.

In the three weeks after Labor Day, $122.58 million has been spent on #TXSen advertising. 🔵 James Talarico $18.73M 🔴 Ken Paxton $0.25M (+ ~$800k coordinated spending) 🟡 Outside Groups: $92.91M (82.5% of spending) All in all, only 20% of ad spending favors the Dem candidate.

Dems Lag in Senate Ad Spending; U.S. Government Spends $3.5M on Ads Touting Trump Administration - Wesleyan Media Project

Cost of Living and Taxes Top Issue Mentions in Congressional Spots (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 1, 2026 – Spending on ads in U.S. Senate races approached $500 million in the period between September 8 (th...

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

In the three weeks after Labor Day, advertising spending in U.S. Senate races approached $500 million. More than half of this spending was concentrated in just three races: $112.58 million in the #TXSEN race, $90.21 million in #OHSEN, and $56.95 million in #MISEN.

Not surprisingly 2026 general election advertising is shaping up to be all about the economy w/ Dems focusing on cost of living while Reps talk taxes. More on the $ in top races, ads by the US Government, and Trump mentions in our report ⬇️ @mikefranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social #2026midterms

Wesleyan Media Project@wesmediaproject.bsky.social · last wk.

🚨 NEW WMP REPORT on House, Senate, and Governor races, covering: • Which races are seeing the most ad spending? Across cable, streaming, and digital? • What issues are campaign ads focused on? • How are new legal rulings shaping coordinated spending? mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-100...

🚨 NEW WMP REPORT on House, Senate, and Governor races, covering: • Which races are seeing the most ad spending? Across cable, streaming, and digital? • What issues are campaign ads focused on? • How are new legal rulings shaping coordinated spending? mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-100...

Dems Lag in Senate Ad Spending; U.S. Government Spends $3.5M on Ads Touting Trump Administration - Wesleyan Media Project

Cost of Living and Taxes Top Issue Mentions in Congressional Spots (MIDDLETOWN, CT) October 1, 2026 – Spending on ads in U.S. Senate races approached $500 million in the period between September 8 (the day after Labor Day) and September 27. Of that, over $112 million was devoted to ads in the Texas Senate race,

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

In the last month, $97.2M was spent in #OHSen — the most of any Senate race during that time period. 🔵 Sherrod Brown: $14.8M 🔴 Jon Husted: $1.74M 🟡 Outside Groups: $72.9M 41.6% of ad spending favors the Democratic candidate.

Over the past month, advertisers have spent more on pro-GOP ads than pro-Dem ads in 9 of 10 top Senate races, with #GASen being the exception. The upside for Democrats, per @mikefranz.bsky.social? Much of their spending comes from candidates, who receive the lowest unit rate from TV stations.

The number of Senate ads on broadcast television this year is on pace with previous years, even exceeding the number in 2022 and 2024. There has been a spike in such ads over the past few weeks, with volumes reaching over 60,000 per week.

"2026 is shaping up to be a banner year" in U.S. political advertising, per @efranklinfowler.bsky.social. Why? 👉 Record TV airings in House & Gov races 👉 Rise of digital ads has not slowed TV ads 👉 Volume of federal TV ads in 2026 congressional contests nearly 2x what it was in 2012

Outside groups accounted for the MAJORITY of ad spending in the last month in these races: #MSSen 89.3% #FLSen 82.7% #MESen 78.9% #IASen 78.9% #AKSen 78.4% #OHSen 75% #NCSen 73.8% #TXSen 68.9% #MASen 67.3% #MISen 65.2% #NESen 64.9% #SCSen 63.9% #KSSen 62.3% #MNSen 59.6% #NHSen 53.5% #GASen 53.4%

Advertisers have spent more on pro-Rep ads than pro-Dem ads in 9 of the top 10 Senate races. Ad spending continues to accelerate, with $4B spent to date & $1B in the last month. mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @mikefranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social

Republicans Outspend Democrats in Most Top Senate Races; Ohio Leads Senate and Governor Ad Spending - Wesleyan Media Project

Banner Year for Broadcast Ad Volume in Spite of Increased Digital Ad Spend (MIDDLETOWN, CT) September 17, 2026 – Over the past month, advertisers have spent more on pro-Republican ads than pro-Democratic ads in nine of the top ten Senate races, with Georgia the only state breaking that trend, as Table 1 shows. “The political

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

💥NEW WMP report: Immigration & police top concerns for both parties in Senate races. Ad spending in the cycle to date approaches $3 billion. Report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-081... @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @mikefranz.bsky.social @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social

Immigration and Police Top Concerns for Both Parties in Senate Races - Wesleyan Media Project

In House, Dems focus more on cost of living; GOP discuss crime and taxes (MIDDLETOWN, CT) August 13, 2026 – Ads supporting Republicans and Democrats running for Senate this year have converged on the ...

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

💥NEW WMP report: Spending in the 2025-2026 midterm election cycle surpassed $2.2 billion in House, Senate, & Governor races, & the federal messaging is predominantly about Trump. mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/release-0618... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @mikefranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social

Midterm Ad Discussion Revolves Around Trump - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

💥NEW WMP report: Past Two Weeks Sees $210 Million in Ad Spending; $20 Million Spent on AI Ads This Cycle Full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-052... Report by: @tnridout.bsky.social, @efranklinfowler.bsky.social, and @mikefranz.bsky.social @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social

#

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

💥NEW WMP report: 2026 Midterm Political Ad Spending Reaches $1.7 Billion Full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-051... Report by: @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @mikefranz.bsky.social @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social #2026election #politicalads

Ad spending totals $700 million in the past two months, reaching $1.7 billion cycle-to-date - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

💥 In case you missed our NEW WMP report from last week: 2026 midterm ad spending for U.S. House and U.S. Senate races reached $565M cycle-to-date. Read full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-030... Report by: @mikefranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social

Midterm political ad spending reaches $565 million - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu

📢 We're Hiring! The Wesleyan Media Project (WMP), in collaboration with Wesleyan University’s Hazel Quantitative Analysis Center (QAC) at Wesleyan University, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in computational social science to join us.

Anna Massoglia has a new analysis with @brennancenter.org exploring dark money spending in the 2024 elections (www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...). Anna looked at many sources of data, including our analysis on dark money sponsors of TV ads in 2023-24. mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/dark-money-o...

Dark Money on TV in the 2024 Elections - Wesleyan Media Project

mediaproject.wesleyan.edu