Senate Battle Goes to Wire With Spending Records Shattered

Billions of dollars in advertising are being poured into Senate races nationwide, with competitive contests in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Montana driving record spending.

Both major parties are aiming to sway voters in the struggle for Senate control.

In these three battleground states alone, more than $1 billion is projected to be spent by election day, Nov. 5, with candidates and parties leveraging high-stakes issues and high-profile endorsements to energize voters.

The U.S. Senate is narrowly held by the Democrats with a 51-49 majority, which includes independents who typically caucus with Democrats. However, this balance is fragile, with a highly contested 34 seats up for grabs.

With races in key states like Montana and Ohio drawing considerable funds, the Republican Party are aiming to secure the two extra seats required to secure majority status.

Montana Contest Draws Record Donations

Strategists from both parties have mobilized super PACs and digital ad campaigns in what could become the most expensive Senate election cycle on record.

Projections indicate that total spending may surpass $2.5 billion.

In Montana, Republican Tim Sheehy’s campaign against Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester has garnered national attention, with Sheehy benefiting from strong support in his deep-red home state.

The state has received funding comparable to that of Pennsylvania and Ohio, despite having less than one-tenth of the population of either at 1.1 million.

Polling numbers show a competitive race. GOP-aligned super PACs like American Crossroads have shifted their spending focus, reallocating resources to contests where Democrats are perceived to have a stronger hold.

“They’re hoping to peel off enough Trump voters to win,” said Torunn Sinclair, a spokesperson for American Crossroads.

Who Holds the Record for Most Expensive Senate Race?

Open Secrets report the most expensive Senate race ever was Democrat John Ossoff’s victory in Georgia during the 2020 election.

The contest between him and Republican opponent David Perdue found no decisive winner, leading to a runoff that decided Senate control, with a turnout of 61.5 percent.

Ohio’s Senate race, in which Republican Bernie Moreno is challenging incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, has emerged as a high-cost battleground, with an estimated $500 million in total spending anticipated by election day, according to campaign finance data from Open Secrets.

In his ad campaigns, Brown has aimed to connect personally with Ohio voters, frequently addressing viewers directly in ads that emphasize his record of bipartisan cooperation.

“I have a question,” Brown states in one ad, leaning on a woodwork table and asking voters, “Have you ever heard Bernie Moreno talk about what he’s going to do for Ohio?”

Texas: Ted Cruz vs. A Former NFL Pro

Democrats are also directing resources into Republican-stronghold states like Texas, where Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL player, is challenging incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.

Allred has become a top fundraiser, driven by small-dollar donations that have given him a 3-to-2 spending advantage over Cruz.

The Texas contest has been bolstered by high-profile endorsements, with Vice President Kamala Harris appearing alongside Allred and singer Beyoncé in Houston in a bid to boost turnout among Black voters.

In Pennsylvania, Republican candidate David McCormick seeks to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in a tight race. McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, has attacked Casey’s alignment with the Biden administration, arguing that Casey is “a sure thing” for the current agenda.

In response, Casey has focused his ads on his legislative priorities, including “greedflation” initiatives that target corporate price-gouging.

His campaign has also emphasized Casey’s support for fracking and previous cooperation with Trump on trade.

The President’s Path to Pennsylvania

Ad spending data from AdImpact indicates that Pennsylvania’s Senate race alone will account for over $340 million.

The “Path to Pennsylvania” is being labeled the decisive state for either former president Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris’ victory.

Harris has focused on major population centers, particularly Philadelphia and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), trying to maximize Black and Latino turnout alongside Democrat senate candidate Bob Casey Jr.

Trump, on the other hand, has concentrated his efforts on Pennsylvania’s Rust Belt and rural areas, hoping Nov. 5 will spell victory for Republican candidate Dave McCormick.

Most polls show Casey to be the slight favorite to win.

President Joe Biden won there by about 80,000 votes in 2020. Trump secured it by half that amount—about 40,000—in his 2016 victory.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press