Ad spending ramps up in Senate race

The Washington Bureau of Spectrum News turned to a University of Cincinnati political science professor to explain the national interest in a U.S. Senate campaign between incumbent Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown.

According to Spectrum News, the campaigns have already spent $16 million in political advertising nearly six months before the election. 

Partisan political action committees have pledged $79 million to Husted and $40 million to Brown. This comes on the heels of the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history in 2024 in which Husted unseated Brown. That race saw a combined $484 million in spending by the two campaigns.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor David Niven said national campaigns typically target the closest races.

“Money flows in politics to uncertainty, and you see it in the declarations of the parties, both of which have pledged to put massive sums of money in this,” Niven told Spectrum News. “And you see it in the behavior of all outside donors. They're not sure who's going to win this race.”

Niven teaches in UC's School of Public and International Affairs.

Featured image at top: UC Professor David Niven talked to Spectrum News about the U.S. Senate race in Ohio. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC