Iowa political ad spending tops $3 million in 2025, outpacing previous off year levels

Political groups have spent more than $3 million on TV ads in Central Iowa so far in 2025. That’s more than double what was spent over the same period in 2021, the last off year before a midterm election.

Political groups have spent more than $3 million on TV ads in Central Iowa so far in 2025. That’s more than double what was spent over the same period in 2021, the last off year before a midterm election.

��vlog EIGHT, NEWS AT SIX. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO SEE POLITICAL TV ADS POPPING UP THIS EARLY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE’S NO BIG ELECTION THIS YEAR. ��vlog CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER BREAKS DOWN WHO’S ALREADY SPENDING MILLIONS ON ADS HERE IN CENTRAL IOWA, AND HOW IT COMPARES TO THE LAST OFF YEAR BEFORE A MIDTERM ELECTION. IT’S ALREADY BUSY. AMANDA. IT IS BEN. YOU KNOW, IT’S AN OFF YEAR, SO THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TIME WHERE WE GET A BREAK FROM POLITICAL ADS, AND YET THEY’RE ALL OVER OUR SCREENS RIGHT NOW. POLITICAL GROUPS HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $3 MILLION ON TV ADS IN CENTRAL IOWA THIS YEAR. THAT’S ACCORDING TO AD IMPACT. AND IT’S MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE SAW BY THIS TIME IN 2021. THAT’S THE LAST OFF YEAR BEFORE A MIDTERM ELECTION. AND THAT YEAR, MOST OF THE MONEY WENT TOWARDS IOWA’S THIRD DISTRICT RACE. I LOOKED THROUGH THE DATA TO SEE WHAT’S DRIVING UP THE EARLY SPENDING THIS YEAR. WHEN IT COMES TO TV ADS, LIBERAL LEANING GROUPS HAVE SPENT THE BIGGEST SHARE NEARLY $900,000, TARGETING THE 2026 IOWA SENATE RACE. SOME OF THAT SPENDING HAS GONE INTO ATTACK ADS AGAINST SENATOR JONI ERNST, SENATOR JONI ERNST JUST VOTED TO MAKE THE BIGGEST CUTS TO MEDICAID IN HISTORY. CONSERVATIVE GROUPS HAVE ALSO PUT UP ABOUT $130,000 FOR THE SAME RACE. OTHER TOP SPENDERS, INDEPENDENT GROUPS FOCUSED ON IOWA ENERGY POLICY, SPENDING AROUND $558,000 ON TV ADS. WE NEED AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY STRATEGY, AND WHILE NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS IN 2021, GROUPS ARE STILL POURING MONEY INTO IOWA’S THIRD DISTRICT RACE. THEY’VE ALREADY SPENT ABOUT $314,000 WITH ADS SUPPORTING AND CRITICIZING REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE ZACH NUNN. CONGRESSMAN ZACH NUNN COULD COST YOU EVEN MORE. CONSERVATIVE LEANING GROUPS HAVE SPENT SLIGHTLY MORE THAN LIBERAL LEANING ONES SO FAR. THANKS, ZACH NUNN FOR VOTING TO CUT WORKING FAMILIES TAXES. OTHER SPENDING INCLUDES ABOUT $183,000 PRAISING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL AND MORE THAN 177,000 FROM A GROUP BACKING REPUBLICAN RANDY FEENSTRA. HE’S RUNNING ADS BUT HASN’T OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED A BID FOR GOVERNOR. RANDY FEENSTRA IS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE. NOBODY ELSE MEASURES UP. AND EVEN THOUGH WE’RE STILL OVER A YEAR OUT FROM THE 2026, ELECTION, CAMPAIGNS ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP IN OTHER WAYS, TOO, WITH NEW YARD SIGNS POPPING UP FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. IT’S ALREADY FEELING LIKE ELECTION SEASON HERE IN IOWA. WE’RE A LONG WAYS OUT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL JUST LOOKING AT SPENDING ON TV ADS. IT DOESN’T INCLUDE THE ADS YOU SEE ON YOUTUBE OR INSTAGRAM OR OTHER SPOTS ONLINE. BACK IN 2021, THERE HAD ONLY BEEN ABOUT 1.4 MILLION SPENT ON TV ADS BY THIS POINT IN THE YEAR. BUT BY DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR, THAT NUMBER GREW TO MORE THAN 6.3 MILLION. RIGHT NOW IN 2025, WE’RE AT ROUGHLY 3 MILLION. SO SPENDING WOULD STILL HAVE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE BY DECEMBER TO MATCH WHERE WE WERE FOUR YEARS AGO. AND IF THAT HAPPENS, GET READY TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THESE POLITICAL ADS POPPING UP ON YOUR TV. BE

Updated: 6:49 PM CDT Jul 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Iowa political ad spending tops $3 million in 2025, outpacing previous off year levels

Updated: 6:49 PM CDT Jul 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Even though there aren’t any big statewide or national races in Iowa this year, millions of dollars in political ads are already hitting local TV screens.According to data from the ad tracking group AdImpact, political groups have spent more than $3 million on TV ads in Central Iowa so far in 2025. That’s more than double what was spent over the same period in 2021 — the last off-year before a midterm election.While there will be local school board and city council races on the ballot this November, there are no statewide or national contests this year, outside of any special elections that pop up. Typically, off-years are quieter. Parties and campaigns use them to raise money, build infrastructure and get ready for the next major cycle. But ad spending hasn’t slowed down in 2025.The biggest share of this year’s spending, nearly $1.1 million, has gone to ads targeting the 2026 Iowa Senate race. Most of that money comes from Democrats and liberal-leaning groups who've spent nearly $900,000 on ads attacking Sen. Joni Ernst. Conservative groups have also spent about $130,000 on the same race.Another major focus: Iowa energy policy. Independent groups have spent around $558,000 on ads supporting an "all of the above" energy strategy, making the case for policies that support clean energy infrastructure.Ads about Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District have totaled about $314,000, with a near-even split between ads supporting and criticizing Republican Zach Nunn. Conservative-leaning outside groups have spent slightly more than liberal ones.Other spending includes about $183,000 praising President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” and more than $177,000 from a group backing Republican Randy Feenstra, even though he hasn’t officially announced a run for governor.For comparison, by this point in July 2021, total spending was around $1.4 million. Most of it, more than 70%, was focused on Iowa’s 3rd district race. By the end of that year, total spending climbed to about $6.3 million. This year’s spending would have to more than double by December to hit that same mark.Campaign yard signs are also starting to pop up across Central Iowa — including signs for Republican Eddie Andrews and Democrat Rob Sand, who are both running for governor in 2026.Even in years without high-profile statewide or national contests, campaigns and outside groups are seeing value in getting an early start and building name recognition long before most voters head to the polls.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Even though there aren’t any big statewide or national races in Iowa this year, millions of dollars in political ads are already hitting local TV screens.

According to data from the ad tracking group AdImpact, political groups have spent more than $3 million on TV ads in Central Iowa so far in 2025. That’s more than double what was spent over the same period in 2021 — the last off-year before a midterm election.

While there will be local school board and city council races on the ballot this November, there are no statewide or national contests this year, outside of any special elections that pop up.

Typically, off-years are quieter. Parties and campaigns use them to raise money, build infrastructure and get ready for the next major cycle. But ad spending hasn’t slowed down in 2025.

The biggest share of this year’s spending, nearly $1.1 million, has gone to ads targeting the 2026 Iowa Senate race. Most of that money comes from Democrats and liberal-leaning groups who've spent nearly $900,000 on ads attacking Sen. Joni Ernst. Conservative groups have also spent about $130,000 on the same race.

Another major focus: Iowa energy policy. Independent groups have spent around $558,000 on ads supporting an "all of the above" energy strategy, making the case for policies that support clean energy infrastructure.

Ads about Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District have totaled about $314,000, with a near-even split between ads supporting and criticizing Republican Zach Nunn. Conservative-leaning outside groups have spent slightly more than liberal ones.

Other spending includes about $183,000 praising President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” and more than $177,000 from a group backing Republican Randy Feenstra, even though he hasn’t officially announced a run for governor.

For comparison, by this point in July 2021, total spending was around $1.4 million. Most of it, more than 70%, was focused on Iowa’s 3rd district race. By the end of that year, total spending climbed to about $6.3 million. This year’s spending would have to more than double by December to hit that same mark.

Campaign yard signs are also starting to pop up across Central Iowa — including signs for Republican Eddie Andrews and Democrat Rob Sand, who are both running for governor in 2026.

Even in years without high-profile statewide or national contests, campaigns and outside groups are seeing value in getting an early start and building name recognition long before most voters head to the polls.

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Iowa political ad spending tops $3 million in 2025, outpacing previous off year levels

Political groups have spent more than $3 million on TV ads in Central Iowa so far in 2025. That’s more than double what was spent over the same period in 2021, the last off year before a midterm election.

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