United States 2026 / By state / California
California · Midterm elections · 3 November 2026
Who paid to reach California voters
Most of the money on California’s races took no side. The costliest race: Ballot measures, at $19M. Donald Trump was the most-attacked name in the state.
Ads delivered from 4 May 2026 to 4 November 2026 · Results: unofficial count as of 6 November 2026
The races
Each race links to its candidates’ pages, with the unofficial count above its spend. Spend counts every ad about the race, the candidates’ own and outside groups’.
Democratic sideRepublican sideNo side (white figures)
U.S. Senate
Schiff vs Padilla
$148.7K · 113 ads · 8 pages
- Adam Schiff$29K own
- Alex Padilla$18.1K own
- Outside groups and others$101.6K
Largest pages
- Catherine Blakespear$69.3K
- Adam Schiff$29K
- Alex Padilla$18.1K
Governor
Becerra vs Hilton
$2.9M · 2,474 ads · 51 pages
Largest pages
U.S. House
House · 49 districts
$4.6M · 5,961 ads · 113 pages
- CA-4 · Eric Jones$978.5K
- CA-48 · Marni Von Wilpert$357.3K
- CA-37 · Sydney Kamlager-Dove$354.5K
- 46 other districts, and ads naming none$2.9M
Other statewide offices
$2M · 1,495 ads · 57 pages
Largest pages
- Fiona Ma$205.1K
- Educators for Josh Fryday for Lt. Governor$199.7K
- Educators for Barrera$196.9K
State legislature
$2.9M · 3,052 ads · 189 pages
- Tiffanie Tate$1.1K own
- Outside groups and others$2.9M
Largest pages
- Brian Goldsmith for State Senate$252.9K
- Grow CA$225K
- Californians for Goldsmith$105K
Ballot measures
- Proposition 1 · Issue $11.25 billion in bonds to fund Multifamily Housing Program, CalVet Home Loan Program, and youth housingPassedYes 59.4% · No 40.6%
- Proposition 2 · Increase the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) cap from 10% of general fund revenue to 20% and excluding deposits into the BSA from the Gann LimitPassedYes 59.6% · No 40.4%
- Proposition 3 · Renew the additional income taxes enacted with the approval of Proposition 30 in 2012 that fund education and early childhood programsPassedYes 58.7% · No 41.3%
- Proposition 37 · Establish a second mortgage homebuyer program for qualified homebuyers on qualifying homes and issue $25 billion in bonds to fund the programPassedYes 61.1% · No 38.9%
- Proposition 38 · Issue $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund immunology and immunotherapy researchNot yet calledYes 55.3% · No 44.7%
- Proposition 39 · Require voters to present government-issued identification when casting ballots and require election officials to use government data to confirm...FailedYes 40.7% · No 59.3%
- Proposition 4 · Allow the state and local governments to create programs that provide candidates with public funds under spending limits and eligibility rulesNot yet calledYes 48.5% · No 51.5%
- Proposition 40 · Levy a one-time 5% tax on the accumulated wealth of taxpayers and trusts with covered assets valued over $1 billion to fund state health care...Not yet calledYes 45.4% · No 54.6%
- Proposition 41 · Require state laws or ballot initiatives levying a new special tax enacted after January 1, 2026 to require the government entities or departments...Not yet calledYes 46.7% · No 53.3%
- Proposition 42 · Prohibit the enactment of new taxes after January 1, 2026 on ownership or accumulation of retirement holdings, individually-owned assets, and...Not yet calledYes 53.4% · No 46.6%
- Proposition 43 · Require two-thirds vote by electorate to enact, extend, or increase local special tax initiatives and prohibit local governments and ballot...Not yet calledYes 44.5% · No 55.5%
- Proposition 44 · Prohibit healthcare clinics, specifically federally-qualified health centers and related organizations, from spending less than 90% of their...FailedYes 19.2% · No 80.8%
- Proposition 45 · Establish timelines for local and state agencies to review plans and solicit public comment for essential projects, such as housing, improvements...Not yet calledYes 45.4% · No 54.6%
- Proposition 5 · Eliminate the successor election when a state officer is recalled, thereby leaving the office vacant until it is filled according to state lawNot yet calledYes 50.9% · No 49.1%
$19M · 8,598 ads · 358 pages
Largest pages
Local races
$6.8M · 18,152 ads · 1,445 pages
Largest pages
- Estamos con Nithya$470.4K
- Los Angeles Controller for Change 2026$375.8K
- Streets For All$270.2K
U.S. House, district by district
49 districts with ads. A district is placed only when the ad names it, or the candidate’s FEC record does.
Who paid
The pages that spent the most on California’s races; spend here is what each page spent in this state.
| # | Advertiser | Side | Race | Ads | Spend | Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No on 40: Protect Funding for Schools, Healthcare & Public SafetyPaid for by No on Prop 40 - Doctors, Teachers, Small Businesses, Working Families and Public Safety Against the Reckless Wealth Tax Experiment. Ad committee’s top funders: California Primary Care Association Advocates & California Medical Association. | None | Ballot measure | 1,034 | $4.6M | 100% |
| 2 | Yes on Proposition 42Paid for by Yes on 42 – Protect Retirement & Life Savings, a coalition of retirees, blue-collar workers, seniors, veterans, small businesses & taxpayers | None | Ballot measure | 869 | $3.1M | 6.2% |
| 3 | YES on Prop 38 - Immunology Medical Research & CuresPaid for by YES on 38: Californians for Life-Saving Immunology Research and Cures, sponsored by the Michelson Center for Public Policy. Ad Committee’s Top Funders: Gary K. Michelson, Michelson Center for Public Policy, Inc., & Meyer Luskin | None | Ballot measure | 357 | $1.6M | 2.6% |
| 4 | Tom SteyerPaid for by Steyer for Governor 2026 | Dem. | Governor | 796 | $1.6M | 26% |
| 5 | NO on Prop 44 - Stop the Attack on PatientsPaid for by No On Prop 44 - Stop the Attack on Patients and Community Health Clinics, sponsored by California Primary Care Association Advocates. Ad Committee’s Top Funders AltaMed Health Services, California Primary Care Association Advocates, and Family Health Centers of San Diego. | None | Ballot measure | 204 | $1.1M | 100% |
| 6 | Eric Jones for Congress | Dem. | House CA-4 | 538 | $906.1K | 27% |
| 7 | YES on Prop 45 - Building a More Affordable CaliforniaPaid for by Yes on 45 – Building a More Affordable California, a Coalition of Water, Affordable Housing, Clean Energy, Small Business, Healthcare & Community Leaders. Ad Committee’s Top Funders: Building a Better California, California Building Industry Association, California Chamber of Commerce | None | Ballot measure | 57 | $831.1K | 7.0% |
| 8 | No on Prop 45 - Protect California CommunitiesPaid for by Ad Committee’s Top Funders: California State Council of Laborers, Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, Southern California District Council of Laborers: “No on Prop 45 - Protect California Communities” | None | Ballot measure | 75 | $770.2K | 100% |
| 9 | Californians for Voter ID, Yes on 39 | None | Ballot measure | 92 | $739.2K | 0.0% |
| 10 | Yes on Prop 3 CAPaid for by Yes on Prop 3, sponsored by education and labor organizations | None | Ballot measure | 148 | $656.4K | 34% |
| 11 | Estamos con Nithya | Dem. | Local | 77 | $470.4K | 17% |
| 12 | Californians Against Wasteful Spending and Higher TaxesPaid for by Californians Against Wasteful Spending and Higher Taxes, a project of the California Business Roundtable | None | Ballot measure | 108 | $410.2K | 100% |
| 13 | Los Angeles Controller for Change 2026Paid for by Controller for Change, Supporting Zach Sokoloff for LA Controller 2026 | None | Local | 360 | $375.8K | 36% |
| 14 | Yes On Prop 40Paid for by Yes on 40 - Billionaire Tax Now - No on 41 & 42, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West | None | Ballot measure | 180 | $375.7K | 49% |
| 15 | California Teachers Association | None | Ballot measure | 69 | $368.1K | 0.0% |
| 16 | Vote No on Prop 43Paid for by No on Prop 43: Stop the Local Taxpayer Deception Act, sponsored by labor organizations | None | Ballot measure | 40 | $365K | 100% |
| 17 | Mayor Matt MahanPaid for by MAHAN FOR GOVERNOR 2026 | Dem. | Governor | 448 | $361.8K | 11% |
| 18 | Sydney KamlagerPaid for by Sydney Kamlager-Dove for Congress | Dem. | House CA-37 | 494 | $350.2K | 48% |
| 19 | Restore Healthcare for AngelenosPaid for by Yes on ER - Restore Healthcare for Angelenos, Sponsored by St. John's Community Health and Health Justice Action Fund | Dem. | Ballot measure | 151 | $288.1K | 60% |
| 20 | Los Angeles Police Protective LeaguePaid for by Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC. 1308 West Eighth Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles. | Rep. | Local | 309 | $287.6K | 100% |
| 21 | Marni von Wilpert for CongressPaid for by MARNI VON WILPERT FOR CONGRESS | Dem. | House CA-48 | 69 | $278K | 54% |
| 22 | Streets For All | Dem. | Local | 224 | $270.2K | 21% |
| 23 | Brian Goldsmith for State SenatePaid for by Brian Goldsmith for State Senate 2026 | None | Legislature | 69 | $252.9K | 8.2% |
| 24 | Vote No on Prop 45Paid for by No on Prop 45, sponsored by labor, health and environmental organizations | None | Ballot measure | 133 | $243.3K | 100% |
| 25 | Zach for ControllerPaid for by Zach Sokoloff for Controller 2026 | None | Local | 103 | $241.7K | 17% |
Every page with ads about California, with search and the CSV: the advertisers.
Who was attacked
| Target | Attack spend | Mostly by |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump | $592.1K | Democratic side |
| Karen Bass | $224K | Democratic side |
| David Valadao | $184.1K | Democratic side |
| Kenneth Mejia | $167.7K | Republican side |
| Fiona Ma | $158.7K | Republican side |
| Becerra | $152.6K | Democratic side |
| Jim Desmond | $150.6K | Democratic side |
| Scott Wiener | $136.8K | Republican side |
Google and YouTube
Google’s register holds 11,079 election ads from 620 verified advertisers aimed at California alone since 4 May 2026, worth $117–141M by Google’s ranges, and 1,075 more named the state among others. Most of it came from advertisers with no FEC record: ballot measures, state races and companies.
11,079
Google ads aimed at California alone
$117–141M
spent, by Google’s ranges
620
verified advertisers
85 / 15
% Dem. / Rep. side, of placed Google spend
An ad counts for the state only when its targeting named no other; Google’s state split is cumulative since 2018 and is not used. Spend is a sum of Google’s per-ad ranges; a side comes from the advertiser’s FEC committee, or failing that from a web search of its verified name. No ad text is published, so Google ads are not placed in races.
A state’s page counts ads about its races and measures; the state comes from the ad’s text, page and payer, or the candidate’s FEC record. Ads about no single state are not here. Candidates are those whose FEC committees paid; state and local candidates appear through their pages.