US election ad spending hits record $4.01 billion in October

According to AdImpact, Republican groups spent $1.9 billion on political ads in October, averaging over $60 million daily for US midterm polls. Democrats spent $1.76 billion, while independent groups accounted for another $350 million, taking total October spending to a record $4.01 billion. With $11.2 billion committed to advertising, the 2026 election cycle is the most expensive in US history.