The United States has entered the final two weeks of campaigning ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, with candidates and political organisations intensifying their efforts to reach voters.
The elections will determine all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, approximately one-third of the Senate's seats, and numerous state-level positions, including governorships. The results will shape the balance of power in Congress and influence federal legislation, government spending and congressional oversight.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Early voting has been underway ahead of Election Day.
A reported $3.8 billion had been spent on political advertisements aired by October 12.
Texas, Ohio and Michigan were among the leading Senate advertising markets.
Congressional candidates reported approximately $2.04 billion in disbursements through June 30, 2026.
All 435 House seats and the Senate seats scheduled for the 2026 cycle are being contested.
Political advertising has become a major feature of this election cycle. According to AdImpact, a record $3.8 billion had been spent on political advertisements aired by October 12.
The largest advertising markets included competitive Senate races in Texas, Ohio and Michigan. AdImpact's figures indicate that the 2026 congressional advertising campaign has already surpassed the comparable spending pace recorded during the 2024 election cycle.
The $3.8 billion figure refers to political advertisements aired during the campaign, rather than the total cost of every election-related activity. Campaign expenditure also includes staffing, voter outreach, fundraising, travel and other organisational expenses.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The midterm elections will determine which party controls the House and Senate, affecting the passage of legislation, federal budget decisions and congressional oversight. The scale of political advertising also demonstrates the resources being directed towards reaching voters. However, higher advertising expenditure does not guarantee electoral success. For voters, the final campaign period provides an opportunity to examine candidates' stated positions, compare policy proposals and consult official election authorities about voting arrangements.
Separate figures published by the Federal Election Commission on October 1 showed that congressional candidates had received approximately $2.8 billion and disbursed about $2.04 billion between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Political parties and political action committees reported additional financial activity during that period.
These figures cover different categories and reporting periods and should not be treated as directly comparable totals.
The closing campaign period will include further advertising, candidate appearances and voter outreach. Election officials will continue administering early voting according to state-specific schedules before Election Day.
The outcome will determine the composition of the next Congress and influence the administration's ability to advance its legislative priorities during the remaining two years of Trump's current term.
