70 House Districts Draw Six-Figure Ad Buys From Both Parties

Republican and Democratic campaign arms are each pouring at least six figures into advertising in 70 House districts in the final week before the Nov. 3 midterm election, according to an NPR analysis. Among the highest-spending races are Michigan's 7th District and North Carolina's 1st District, each with more than $12 million in planned spending.

Those 70 districts voted for Trump by an average of 9 points in 2024. They include seats redrawn by Republicans this year to reduce Democratic voting power, such as Alabama's 2nd District and Tennessee's 9th District, as well as districts where Trump won by more than 10 points, including Kentucky's 6th District and Arkansas's 2nd District.

The Cook Political Report rates Democrats as favored in 220 House seats, lists 17 seats as toss-ups and marks another 30 as potentially competitive but leaning toward Republicans. Republicans currently hold a 218-214 advantage in the House.

Mid-decade redistricting followed a Supreme Court decision that further rolled back a portion of the Voting Rights Act. Republicans shifted boundary lines in districts held by Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio's 9th District, Don Davis of North Carolina's 1st District, Shomari Figures of Alabama's 2nd District and Darren Soto of Florida's 9th District. Only the Figures and Soto districts are rated as favoring Republicans.

An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds Democrats leading by 10 points among registered voters and 8 points among likely voters on the generic congressional ballot. The same survey shows cost of living as the top concern for voters, with gas prices, tariffs and the war in Iran cited as factors.

AdImpact data shows Republicans have cut ad reservations in recent weeks for four districts that split their 2024 presidential and House votes: California's 13th District held by Rep. Adam Gray, New Jersey's 9th District held by Rep. Nellie Pou, Washington's 3rd District held by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez and Nebraska's 2nd District held by retiring Rep. Don Bacon. Sixty districts are listed as priorities by both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and its Republican counterpart.

Voting concluded for many voters before Election Day, as millions have already cast ballots in the midterms. Ad spending continues in districts rated as toss-ups and in Tennessee's 9th, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where seven-figure buys are planned.