Last fall the numbers crunchers who track the media forecast that spending on political ads in the 2022 midterms would hit nearly $9 billion. Broadcast and cable television will claim the lion's share. With political contributions already surpassing $5.9 billion according to the Federal Election Commission, the spending estimate looks on the low side. "Politics is so expensive it takes a lot of money even to be defeated," Will Rogers quipped a century ago. Imagine what the cowboy humorist would say about elections today.
Profits and Politics: The Cost to Democracy When Ad Spending Goes Over the Top
![Profits and Politics: The Cost to Democracy When Ad Spending Goes Over the Top](/media/articles/image-cover-1654084837085.550x380_q85_box-0%2C407%2C2122%2C1880_crop.png.webp)