Political advertising is already heating up, and the 2026 midterm cycle is projected to drive more than $10 billion in media spend—nearly double the last midterm election cycle. But by the time political dollars appear in public filing registries, much of the opportunity has already moved. In this edition of our State of the Industry series, MediaRadar experts will break down how political ad dollars are moving across markets, where demand is expected to surge, and how media organizations can capture more of the spend. Campaigns, PACs, and buying firms are making strategic budget decisions earlier than ever, reshaping demand across local TV, radio, CTV, digital, and out-of-home markets. Media organizations that understand where spend is accelerating, how budgets are shifting, and which signals indicate upcoming demand will be best positioned to price inventory confidently, win more business, and capture a larger share of the biggest midterm spend on record.