Record $11.6B ad spend as billionaires, dark money flood US midterms

US midterm campaign spending is on track to set a record, with political advertising alone projected at $11.6 billion, fueled by billionaire donors and dark-money groups. The scale of spending underscores the high stakes of the congressional balance of power, though the specific competitive dynamics remain fluid. This signals intense political polarization and potential policy volatility post-election.