• by Wayne Friedman , June 12, 2026

With the fastest political ad spending so far, reaching $4 billion through June, AdImpact has raised its total 2025-26 midterm cycle spending projection to $11.6 billion, up from $10.8 billion previously.

The ad tracker now estimates broadcast TV spending will now reach $5.6 billion, up $400 million from its previous estimate.

Connected TV (CTV) will reach $2.7 billion, $300 million higher than its previous estimate.

Digital media and cable TV ad spend will each see $200 million more, getting to $1.6 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.

Radio ad spend is estimated to reach $273 million (compared to a previous estimate of 280 million), and satellite-based platforms are estimated at $87 million (from $80 million).

The increase is largely due to Senate-based races. AdImpact raised its estimate for those campaigns by 23% to $3.4 billion.

At the same time, it revised the estimate for House of Representatives campaigns down by 7% to $2.1 billion.

The big states that will be getting those political dollars are California ($979 million), Michigan ($852 million), and Texas ($850 million).

For the last political advertising cycle -- the Presidential-focused 2024 year -- actual results totaled $11.2 billion.

AdImpact's projection for that year was $10.7 billion -- within 5% of the actual result.