What Happened?

Outside groups booked $6.89 million in net airtime in Michigan, more than in Florida ($5.68 million) or Texas ($2.36 million), with Republican-aligned groups accounting for $4.36 million. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hosts public political files for broadcast, cable, radio and satellite stations, and Legis1 compiles those filings into daily totals. ​

Republican-aligned outside groups booked $19.42 million in airtime today, compared with $4.02 million for Democratic-aligned groups, a ratio of nearly 5 to 1. That gap nearly doubled in a single day: yesterday the ratio was 2.3 to 1, with the dollar difference widening from $7.79 million to $15.40 million.

These figures represent airtime booked, not money spent; cuts and cancellations subtract from the daily net, and candidates' own buys and digital or streaming purchases are not included.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

Michigan drew $6.89 million in total net booked airtime today, the most of any state covered. Democratic-aligned groups booked 63 percent of their $4.02 million in airtime in Michigan, with House Majority PAC accounting for $1.44 million of that.

On the Republican side, Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with House Republican leadership, booked $3.16 million in Michigan across 18 filings. The Michigan U.S. Senate race is rated Lean Democratic.

In Texas's 28th and 34th House districts, both rated Lean Democratic, Republican-aligned groups booked $641,000 and $991,000 respectively, with no Democratic-aligned airtime recorded in either.

Both Sides, Now

Republican-aligned and Democratic-aligned outside groups both book broadcast airtime in competitive races through the FCC's political files. Democratic-aligned groups booked 63 percent of their airtime today in Michigan.

The Brennan Center for Justice reported that dark-money groups spent a record $1.9 billion in the 2024 federal races. OpenSecrets reported this month that outside groups had spent $330 million opposing just three Democratic Senate candidates.

National party committees are tracked separately; they booked $2.04 million for Republicans and $2.15 million for Democrats today.

What Happens Next?

Cycle-to-date, Republican-aligned groups lead Democratic-aligned groups by $162.33 million in total booked airtime ($580.90 million versus $418.57 million).

For the week starting Oct. 19, Democratic-aligned groups have $78.02 million booked against $73.23 million for Republican-aligned groups, a lead of $4.79 million. The week starting Oct. 26 shows $80.60 million Democratic-aligned against $67.34 million Republican-aligned; a Republican response would show up most visibly as added bookings in Michigan.

Axios Detroit reported on Oct. 15 that spending on video ads in Michigan's Senate race had reached $181 million. The FCC's public political files, compiled by Legis1, update as stations log new orders, so the picture can shift daily.

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