Our Expertise
Campaigns are won by the teams that adapt fastest. Media companies, ad technologies, platforms, and voter data and targeting tools keep changing, and a campaign has no time to chase every shift.
That’s where we come in. Capitol Media Strategies partners with a best-of-breed group of digital, data, technology, ad serving, cable TV, print/direct mail, and design companies. You get access to the most current tools and solutions through one trusted point of contact, without building a team of your own.
Whether you’re running for office, backing a ballot measure, or advocating for a cause, we’ll help you reach the right voters and supporters with the right message, cost-effectively and with a focus on results.
2026 Election Recap: What We Learned
OpenSecrets projects record spending of $11.9 billion on the 2026 midterms, about 30% above 2022. Advertising alone is projected at $11.6 billion, topping the $11.2 billion spent in the 2024 presidential cycle. Top-of-the-ticket campaigns still leaned on broadcast, but streaming, digital, and direct mail carried much of the load for down-ballot and local races. uamorningstar
Lessons learned
1. Start earlier than ever.
Spending is arriving sooner, and broadcasters say political crowd-out now begins around Labor Day instead of October. Early voting also hit new highs, with more than 61.7 million votes cast before Election Day. Campaigns need to plan, budget, and reserve inventory well before the fall. gabelliheadtopics
2. Streaming has overtaken cable.
Connected TV overtook cable in political ad spend for the first time in a midterm. Geotargeting also lets small races use video that broadcast priced them out of. Social platforms keep shifting, so budgets must stay flexible. adweek
3. Better data means sharper messaging.
As voters’ demographics and interests change, campaigns need distinct messages for the subgroups inside their target universe, not one broad message. That’s especially true for direct mail.
4. Use a mix, not a single channel.
Direct mail still matters. A new AAPC and U.S. Postal Service study found it cuts through digital noise better than digital channels. But mail costs more per contact, so use it for high-propensity voters and detailed messages, and use streaming and digital for reach and frequency. We believe digital, cable TV, streaming audio/video, and direct mail together beat any single tactic. campaignsandelections
5. Rebuild your 2028 target universe.
Don’t rely on old midterm averages. Use the 2024 and 2026 early-vote counts as your benchmark, and plan for higher turnout. It’s cheaper to add frequency if turnout falls short than to scramble if it exceeds your estimate.