Democrats are dramatically outpacing Republicans in campaign ad spending in Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, according to an Axios report.
And the spending blitz could foreshadow the dynamics of the 2026 midterms.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and her allies have poured $50 million into advertising for Tuesday’s gubernatorial election — double the $25 million spent by Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears and GOP-aligned groups, Axios reported, citing ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
New Jersey’s governor’s race is tighter, but Democrats still hold the edge.
Democrat Mikie Sherrill and allied organizations have invested $61 million in ads since June, compared with $41 million by Republican Jack Ciattarelli and GOP groups.
Many Democrat spots have focused on tying Republicans to President Donald Trump and his handling of the economy.
Ads highlighting taxes and crime have also dominated the airwaves, though the party’s 2024 message of Trump as a “threat to democracy” has been dialed back, Axios noted, after failing to resonate with voters last year.
In Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court races — viewed as another bellwether ahead of the midterms — Democrats and their allies have out-advertised Republicans 4-to-1 this year, according to AdImpact data cited by Axios.
Most of those Democrat ads have centered on abortion rights, with about 1 in 5 referencing Trump.
Meanwhile, one recent poll shows Republican incumbent Jason Miyares pulling away in Virginia’s attorney general contest. Miyares and his backers have spent twice as much as Democrat Jay Jones, who has faced criticism over a past texting scandal involving violent language toward a GOP lawmaker.
Axios reported Saturday that Republicans are rolling out a late multimillion-dollar voter turnout push in Virginia and New Jersey — backed by Trump’s political operation.
The effort will spend more than $1 million per state, targeting Trump supporters and right-leaning voters who typically skip off-year elections.
Party strategists see the effort as a critical test run for energizing the GOP base heading into the 2026 midterms, when Trump won’t be on the ballot.
After stinging losses in 2024, Democrats are eager to show they can win again in high-profile state contests.
“We need to win,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told Axios. “It’s as simple as that.”
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