Nestpoint's John Thomas Examines Super PAC Spending and Senate Advertising Costs With CNN
Washington, D.C., October 14, 2026 — Nestpoint Managing Director John Thomas spoke with CNN for a new report examining the growing cost of political advertising in competitive U.S. Senate races, where Republicans are spending significantly more than Democrats but receiving proportionally less advertising exposure.
The article highlights the difference in advertising efficiency between the two parties during the final stretch of the midterm elections. According to AdImpact data cited by CNN, Republicans spent approximately $233 million on broadcast television advertising across nine competitive Senate races in September, compared with $121 million spent by Democrats. Despite spending nearly twice as much, Republicans received only about 40 percent more gross rating points (GRPs), a measure of advertising reach and frequency.
Thomas pointed to GRPs as a more useful way to assess campaign advertising exposure than spending totals alone. The report found that Republicans paid approximately $274 per GRP, compared with $201 for Democrats, reflecting the higher advertising rates often paid by outside groups such as super PACs.
That disparity has become particularly visible in states such as North Carolina, Maine, and Texas, where Republican outside groups have made substantial advertising investments in closely contested races.
In Texas, Thomas noted that Republican groups supporting Senate candidate Ken Paxton have encountered increasingly expensive local television markets. With advertising inventory becoming more competitive, some groups have turned to national NFL broadcasts as an alternative.
“In some cases, because the commercial rate is so high in a local, like a Houston spot, it actually sometimes can be cheaper to buy a national spot,” Thomas explained.
The report also examines how campaign financing rules affect advertising costs. While candidates can access discounted television advertising rates, outside groups generally pay higher commercial rates. Recent changes allowing national party committees to participate in coordinated advertising buys at candidate rates have created another way for campaigns to stretch their budgets.
Still, super PACs remain central to campaign financing because of their ability to raise and spend substantial amounts from a small number of donors.
“The money is actually very, very inefficient, but the benefit, even with the inefficiency of a super PAC, is one or two people can cut checks and fund the whole thing,” Thomas said.
His comments highlight an important tradeoff in modern campaign financing: outside groups provide access to significant funding, but that financial advantage can come at a substantially higher advertising cost. As competitive races enter their final weeks, the distinction between total dollars spent and actual advertising exposure becomes increasingly important.
The article, “Republicans are playing defense — and it’s costing them,” was written by David Wright and published by CNN on October 14, 2026. You can read it here.
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