Presidential candidates plan to spend over $500M on advertising

In the final seven weeks of the presidential campaign, candidates and their allies plan to spend over $500 million on television and radio ads. Groups backing Vice President Kamala Harris have reserved $332 million, significantly outpacing the $194 million reserved by pro-Trump groups, according to AdImpact data. The fundraising advantage held by Democrats after Harris succeeded Biden has fueled their spending, with Harris's campaign spending more than Trump’s in the final weeks. Future Forward, a pro-Harris super PAC, leads spending with $186 million in ads, while the Harris campaign itself will spend $109 million. Key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan will see the highest spending, with Democrats holding significant advantages. Pennsylvania alone will see $133 million in advertising, and Democrats lead by $21 million. However, Republican groups, funded by billionaire donors, could still ramp up last-minute spending. Despite Democrats’ financial edge, outside groups face higher ad costs, meaning Republican campaigns may still achieve greater visibility in certain markets, such as North Carolina. The spending totals do not account for digital platforms like Meta or Google, where Democrats have also historically outspent Republicans.