Ohio’s dead-heat Senate race has become the nation’s most expensive, with nearly $500 million spent on ads in this race alone — and more spending expected ahead of Election Day.
Ohioans have spent the home stretch of the 2024 election cycle inundated with TV and social media ads boosting and opposing incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and his Republican challenger, former luxury car dealer Bernie Moreno, who has earned the backing of former President Donald Trump. Democrats, Republicans and outside groups have spent $483 million on ads and both parties’ ad spot reservations through to Nov. 5 in this race, AdImpact data showed, according to Axios.
The face-off between Brown and Moreno is one of the most highly anticipated congressional races in the nation as the Democrats fight to retain control over the Senate. But the swell of funds being funneled into the election — particularly from megadonors and interest-specific PACs — raises concerns about the effect such big spending can have on democracy, experts argued.