US Midterms Near Record $11.6 Billion Ad Spending

Michigan voters say they are exhausted by an unprecedented barrage of political advertising ahead of a closely contested Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, which could help determine control of Congress. National political ad spending is projected to reach a record $11.6 billion, with Michigan’s Senate contest among the most expensive in state history. Voters disagree about whether the final wave of ads can still influence decisions: some say the messages may stick, while others believe many people have already made up their minds. Despite the broader shift toward digital media, campaigns and political groups are directing a large share of their spending to local television, even as viewers describe the volume as overwhelming or “white noise.”