Perspective: Midterm money madness

Campaign ad spending has topped $10 billion this election cycle, as voters struggle to afford groceries and gas.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x682+0+0/resize/1024x682!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F4c%2Fb89c448144728942306083376993%2Fap26289076401711.jpg' alt='Troy Jackson (D) directs a question to Sen. Susan Collins (R) during the final Maine U.S. Senate debate in Bangor, Maine, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.'/><p>Campaign ad spending has topped $10 billion this election cycle, as voters struggle to afford groceries and gas.</p><p>(Image credit: Gregory A. Rec/Pool Portland Press Herald)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5997474' />