Sen. Raphael Warnock leads all advertisers with about $26.5 million in ad spending, thanks to his record-breaking fundraising, which included more than $50 million in the last FEC reporting period. Meanwhile, Georgia Honor, a group funded by the Senate’s top super PAC, has spent an additional $21.3 million, teaming up with Warnock to give Democrats a prohibitive advantage on the air.
On the GOP side, the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC has spent about $11.8 million on ads, while Herschel Walker’s campaign has spent about $10.8 million.
Neither the NRSC nor the DSCC has spent much on campaign advertising, although both party committees have invested in ground games and field work. Only one other group has spent more than $1 million on ads, the Democratic PAC American Bridge, which has spent $3.6 million.
The tone of the ads fueled by this massive outlay has been dark and negative, with each campaign relying on personal attacks in an attempt to shut down its opponents.
Georgia Honor, the Democratic super PAC, has run ads reminding voters of the domestic abuse allegations against Walker, which he has discussed publicly.
In addition, Warnock’s campaign recently released an ad featuring several people reacting to clips of Walker on the campaign trail, ranting off topic, complaining about vampires vs. werewolves and complaining about “bad air” from China. “It’s embarrassing. Let’s call it what it is. It’s embarrassing,” says one viewer.
And Walker’s campaign aired a new TV spot last week that includes excerpts from a police interview with Warnock’s ex-wife, who accused him of running over her leg with his car in March 2020, although he did not charges were laid. “Find out who Reverend Warnock really is,” says the ad’s narrator.
Meanwhile, a top ad from the Senate Leadership Fund features Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who topped Walker in the general election, winning re-election comfortably. Kemp touts Walker’s candidacy, saying, “Families are struggling because of Biden’s inflation in Washington, it’s not going to change if we don’t get it done.” He continues, “That’s why I support Herschel.”
Warnock and Walker also launched a new campaign on Monday, making one final pitch to voters.
In Warnock’s latest spot, he touts his father’s work ethic, tells voters he’s working for them and asks: “Are you ready to do it again? Put on your shoes. If we fight together, if we stand together, we will win the future.”
Walker’s new ad relies on recently re-elected Gov. Brian Kemp to make the case, with clips of Kemp at a campaign rally. “This will be a turnout election. Who is more motivated? Is it them or us? Correctly. And that’s why it’s time for you to retire, Raphael Warnock, and send Herschel Walker to the United States Senate,” Kemp says in the ad.
