Democratic Candidates, Allies Spend More Than $163 Million on Trump-Referencing TV Ads
Democratic candidates and their allies have spent more than $163 million since September 1 on television advertising that mentions President Trump, effectively making the midterm elections about him, as he apparently desires.
Richmond Petersburg, VA, October 16, 2026 —
Democratic candidates and their allies have spent more than $163 million on television advertising mentioning President Trump since September 1, according to the trend summary. The summary characterizes the ads’ effect as making the midterm elections about Trump, and says that is apparently what he desires.
The information provided does not specify the year attached to September 1, so the period covered cannot be placed on a calendar. It also does not identify the source of the spending estimate or explain how the total was compiled. The figure is described as spending by Democratic candidates and their allies collectively; no breakdown by candidate, group or advertiser is provided.
The summary does not say how many ads ran, where they aired, or what the ads said beyond mentioning Trump. It also provides no information about spending on other kinds of advertising or by other political groups. As a result, the figure describes the reported scale of this particular category of television advertising, but does not provide a comparison with other campaign spending.
The description that the ads effectively make the midterm elections about Trump is an interpretation included in the summary, not a separately substantiated finding in the information provided. The summary likewise offers no direct statement from Trump, the candidates or their allies about the advertising or its intended effect. Further details about the time period, methodology and individual advertisers were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by JILL COLVIN and AARON KESSLER, Associated Press on www.wric.com, see more information here.
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