ARIZONA NEWS

Political advertising spending in 2020 breaks records in Arizona

Nov 3, 2020, 4:35 AM | Updated: 11:49 am

(Arizona Clean Elections Photos)...

(Arizona Clean Elections Photos)

(Arizona Clean Elections Photos)

PHOENIX– The 2020 election cycle will set a record for most money spent on political ads in Arizona.

Advertisers dolled out $260 million on political ads in Arizona, far surpassing the $100 million spent on ads in 2018. This year, advertisers spent that alone on Arizona’s U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly

Cox Media alone reported earnings for ads in Phoenix and southern Arizona around Mark Kelly at $8.05 million.

For McSally, that number reached $3.355 million.

“The Democratic party sees this as a big opportunity to win a second senate seat, and also win the state for Biden,” Cox Media Vice President Richard Barone said.

A similar trend in spending was seen in the presidential race where Republicans were on the defense.

Cox Media reported earnings for ads related to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, in Phoenix and southern Arizona, at $7.7 million.

For President Donald Trump, that number reached $1.016 million.

The Biden and Kelly campaigns are outspending their rivals 2-to-1.

Barone said all sides will keep buying and running ads until the polls close Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

“Every vote matters right now,” Barone said. “Getting in front of voters right up until that last ballot is cast just shows how close and tight the race is.”

On cable, the advertisers went beyond the news networks this year.

“They’re buying networks like Game Show Network, Bravo and Lifetime to reach female voters,” Barone said. “The advertising goes a lot deeper.”

Tune to KTAR News 92.3 FM, online or our app on election night for coverage and analysis of the national, state and local results as they come in.

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Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Mark Kelly, right, Arizona Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, right, hugs his family during an election night event Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
              U.S. Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., walks her dog Boomer to greet voters at a polling station early, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
            Voters wait in line at Mesa Community College Red Mountain campus on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (KTAR News Photo/Griselda Zetino) At Mesa Community College Red Mountain on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (KTAR News Photo/Griselda Zetino) Voters wait in line outside a polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Voters wait to cast their ballots at Burton Barr Central Library on Nov. 3, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Courtney Pedroza) Maricopa County Elections Headquarters in Phoenix on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (KTAR News Photo/Ali Vetnar) A polling place in Phoenix on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (KTAR News Photo/Taylor Kinnerup) Voters wait in line before dawn at Glendale Christian Church on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (KTAR News Photo/Jim Cross) A person walks past voting signs at Burton Barr Central Library on November 3, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Courtney Pedroza) Cisco & the Racecars play for voters at Burton Barr Central Library on November 3, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Courtney Pedroza) An "I voted" sticker is placed on Eddie Slades shirt at Burton Barr Central Library on November 3, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images) People stand in line at the Hamilton County Board of Elections as they wait to vote, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Norwood, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster) Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Vote Center Lead Justin Ogunji, right, stands by the No. 42 display outside of Dodger Stadium, as he calls for the vote center at the stadium to open on Election Day, Tuesday morning, Nov. 3, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) A voter receives their ballot in a designated drive-up area for voters who are currently in quarantine with COVID-19 on November 3, 2020 at St. Louis County Board of Elections in St. Ann, Missouri. After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/ Michael B. Thomas) President Donald Trump speaks at the Trump campaign headquarters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign canvassing event outside Union Hall 445 in Scranton, Pa., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Voters cast their ballots on a foggy morning Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in West Hollywood, Calif.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) First lady Melania Trump walks with Wendy Sartory, the Palm Beach County supervisor of elections, after casting her vote at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center polling place on November 03, 2020 in Palm Beach, Florida.  After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Joe Raedle) A voter arrives at a polling location on Nov. 3, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas.  After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/Tom Pennington) Jack Anderson cleans a voter booth to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Election Day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange County, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Durham, N.C. (Casey Toth/The News & Observer via AP) Voters wait in line outside of the polling place at Eastern High School November 3, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky.  After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/ Jon Cherry) Each voter at this Ridgeland, Miss., voting precinct were required to use a sanitized pen to mark their ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The Mississippi Secretary of State office worked with county officials in providing hand sanitizers, face masks and other items to insure the safety of the electorate and the poll workers. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Voters wait to cast their ballots at Johnston Elementary School in the Wilkinsburg neighborhood on Nov. 3, 2020, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Getty Images Photo/ Jeff Swensen) A poll worker talks to a voter before they vote on a paper ballot on Election Day in Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) 
              Voters fill out their ballots inside a polling place at Indian Creek Fire Station #4 in Miami Beach, Fla., on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
            A voter picks up a sticker from poll worker MacGregor Wale after voting at the Catholic Multicultural Center on Nov. 3, 2020, in Madison, Wisconsin.  After a record-breaking early voting turnout, Americans head to the polls on the last day to cast their vote for incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Andy Manis/Getty Images)

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Political advertising spending in 2020 breaks records in Arizona