Midterm Ads: 70 House Races Draw Six-Figure Spending
Both parties are investing heavily in districts that voted for Trump in 2024, with North Carolina and Michigan leading in ad costs.
By Alexander Parker ·
The 2026 midterm election enters its final week with a focus on how many House seats Democrats can capture rather than whether they will gain control. Data indicates the core contest is about the magnitude of the shift, not just the direction.
An analysis of campaign finance records shows 70 House districts have seen at least $100,000 in ad spending from both parties in the final days. This spending is concentrated in areas that voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, with an average margin of nine points in favor of the Republican nominee.
The most expensive races are Michigan's 7th District and North Carolina's 1st District. Each has more than $12 million in planned spending for the final push. Other high-cost battlegrounds include Florida's 14th, 22nd, and 25th Districts, New York's 17th District, and Iowa's 2nd and 3rd Districts.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-214 seat advantage in the House. The Cook Political Report rates 220 seats as favoring Democrats, 17 as toss-ups, and 30 as leaning Republican. A recent NPR, PBS News, and Marist poll finds Democrats holding a 10-point lead among registered voters and an 8-point lead among likely voters on the generic congressional ballot.
Redistricting plays a major role in these races. Republicans redrew maps in states like Alabama and Tennessee to consolidate conservative voters. This strategy targets Democratic-held districts, including those of Reps. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio, Don Davis in North Carolina, Shomari Figures in Alabama, and Darren Soto in Florida. Only Figures and Soto hold seats currently rated as favoring Republicans.
Conversely, Democrats adjusted maps in California to benefit Republican-held districts. These include seats held by Reps. James Gallagher, David Valadao, Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, and Independent Kevin Kiley. In several of these California races, Republican ad reservations have dropped in recent weeks according to AdImpact data.
Voter concerns center on the cost of living, gas prices, tariffs, and the war in Iran. A record number of retirement announcements has also increased anti-incumbency sentiment. Sixty districts are listed as priorities by both major party campaign arms, reflecting the impact of the administration's unpopularity on the final week of campaigning.
Source: KWMU
