Political Campaigns Spend $11.6 Billion Prioritizing TV Ads
Political campaigns are allocating over 80% of their $11.6 billion budget to traditional and streaming television despite a broader shift toward digital voter consumption.
Political campaigns in the 2026 election cycle are spending an estimated $11.6 billion, with a heavy emphasis on television advertising. Over 60% of total spending is allocated to broadcast and cable TV, while another 20% is directed toward streaming TV platforms.
Rob Flaherty, a digital politics expert and co-runner of the Tomorrow Together super PAC, attributes this reliance on television to a culture of risk aversion among campaign managers. He notes that general consultants often receive financial incentives through commissions on TV media buys, which further encourages the practice.
Flaherty argues that television spending serves as a marker of legitimacy within the political industry. This dynamic leads even digital-focused entities to purchase TV time to ensure they are taken seriously by their peers, despite the shift in how voters consume media.
