Scoop: Senate GOP makes massive bet on streaming
Summary
The Senate Leadership Fund, the leading Senate Republican super PAC, spent more than $200 million on streaming and social media during the 2026 election cycle, nearly three times its 2024 spending. Streaming lets political groups target audiences and negotiate ad prices, but platforms set their own rules and spending can be harder to track than broadcast advertising.Key Facts
- The Senate Leadership Fund’s streaming and social media spending exceeded $200 million in 2026, up from $71 million in 2024.
- The total excludes tens of millions of dollars spent through a Texas PAC linked to the Senate Leadership Fund.
- The top Senate Democratic super PAC did not disclose a spending total, but said it ran digital campaigns in 12 states and spent more on digital communications than in any previous cycle.
- Streaming and social platforms allow more specific audience targeting and easier measurement than traditional broadcast, according to people quoted in the article.
- Netflix and TikTok do not accept candidate or issue ads, and some Republicans have criticized restrictions on ads about transgender issues on Disney-owned platforms.
- Streaming ad reservations are not subject to the same Federal Communications Commission filing requirements as political reservations on broadcast TV and radio.
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee used a court decision to coordinate some ad buys with campaigns and negotiate with streaming platforms for multiple campaigns.
- Super PACs must still report independent expenditures to the Federal Election Commission through 24- and 48-hour reports.
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