Political Advertising has long been a boon to media entities. That is clearly on display in 2026, according to AdImpact.
What We Know: There are dozens of important races around the nation that are altering the projections from AdImpact.
What the Numbers Show: The 2026 cycle has generated $4.43 billion as of June 30th. That eclipses the $3.17 billion spent by the same date during the 2022 cycle. $449.7 million alone was spent in June, according to AdImpact. New York was a spending hotspot, with $41.7 million in political advertising spent. Michigan’s primary election doesn’t take place until August 4th. $40.1 million aired last month, trailing only New York. AdImpact data also shows that the Ohio gubernatorial election is expected to be an expensive race. It has already generated nearly $36 million. That figure is double what was spent in the entire 2022 cycle for the race.
In total, AdImpact forecasts $11.6 billion to be spent during the 2026 cycle. That outpaces the $11.2 billion spent during the 2024 cycle. AM/FM radio is projected to receive $273 million from that total.
What Remains Unclear: Which races will ultimately prove to be the most expensive. Several key races in Michigan, New York, and Ohio have helped increase the total. However, previous races in California also helped grow the overall spending exponentially.
What It Means: The figures projected by AdImpact are staggering. The 2024 election cycle was continuously labeled “unprecedented” for its spending levels. So for the midterm cycle to surpass those record levels is eye-opening. It also shows how important these races are throughout the country, for the spending to increase 40% compared to the last midterm cycle.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.