Presidential election spending in Georgia projected to hit $244M

Political advertising in Georgia for the 2024 presidential election is predicted to reach $244 million, third-highest in the nation.

The Political Projections Report, released Monday by advertising tracking company AdImpact, forecasts $373 million in total election cycle spending. The would rank 10th highest.

Georgia is one of seven consensus battleground states. The others are North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona.

Georgia is behind other states like California and Florida, which have critical races impacting which party controls the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

AdImpact is predicted an unprecedented level of spending this election season.

“As presidential spending rapidly increases after the party conventions this summer, the 2024 cycle will set its pace to become the most expensive political cycle of all time, with a final total of $10.69 billion,” the report says.

If trends continue, it will be even more costly than the 2020 election.

“Through June 30th, we have tracked over $3.10B in spending,” the report says. “Pacing $529M ahead of the 2020 cycle and $71M behind the 2022 cycle.”

This is likely just the start of what AdImpact calls the “true spending season,” which runs from July 1 through Election Day.

Overall, the report anticipates a 19% growth in advertising in the upcoming election cycle over the 2020 election season.

Georgia voters will likely see a large amount of ads from not only political parties, but also many funded by political interest groups.

Planned Parenthood has identified Georgia as one of eight states it plans to spend $40 million in, all in an effort to respond “to mounting threats to reproductive health and rights throughout the country.”