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Week 5 – Texas and North Carolina
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Political advertising is accelerating as the general election enters its final five weeks. This week, Texas and North Carolina show how outside groups are moving large sums quickly and driving a growing share of the advertising in competitive
Voters in Motion: What Black, Hispanic, and Young People are Telling Us
Voters in Motion: What Black, Hispanic, and Young People are Telling Us By Sara Stephenson and Nicole Brok Black, Hispanic, and young voters were important constituencies in the 2024 presidential election. Heading into the 2026 midterms, TargetSmart conducted a nationwide survey to better understand
Week 4 – Kansas and Mississippi
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Political advertising continues to build as campaigns and outside groups increase spending ahead of November. This week, Kansas and Mississippi offer two examples of Senate markets where outside spending is adding new pressure to the advertising landscape. Kansas saw
Week 3 – North Carolina and New Hampshire
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report The political ad market keeps heating up, with fresh dollars from campaigns and outside groups flowing into this cycle's top battlegrounds ahead of November. This week, North Carolina and New Hampshire stand out as two markets already feeling
Beyond Party Lines: Understanding Democratic Ticket Splitting
Beyond Party Lines: Understanding Democratic Ticket Splitting By Lindsay Veazey and Sara Stephenson Not every voter who supports a Democrat at the top of the ballot makes the same choice farther down the ticket. For campaigns, that creates an important strategic question: Where
Week 2 – Texas and Ohio
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Political advertising continues to accelerate as campaigns and outside groups put more money into key markets ahead of the 2026 midterms. This week, Texas and Ohio stand out for two different reasons: Texas is seeing a notable increase
Beyond Turnout: Understanding Where Voters Roll Off the Ballot
Beyond Turnout: Understanding Where Voters Roll Off the Ballot By Lindsay Veazey and Sara Stephenson Getting a voter to the polls is only part of the challenge. The next issue is whether that voter makes it all the way downballot. In elections across
The 2026 Democratic Primary Electorate — And What We Can Learn From It
The 2026 Democratic Primary Electorate — And What We Can Learn From It Much has been written in recent months about an emerging divide between establishment Democrats and candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and
Week 1 – Michigan and Pennsylvania
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Welcome to the Midterm Countdown, your weekly look at political ad spending and premium Connected TV (CTV) availability across key states shaping the 2026 election. Each week, we’ll highlight where spending is picking up, where inventory pressure is
What the VoterBase Update Means for 2026 Campaigns
What the VoterBase Update Means for 2026 Campaigns Last week, TargetSmart released the largest demographic data update in the history of VoterBase, enriching 38.4 million voter records and re-verifying 232.7 million registered voters nationwide, with the strongest gains landing among younger voters,
TargetSmart, Victory Waves Partner to Modernize Petition Validation
TargetSmart, Victory Waves Partner to Modernize Petition Validation WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 20, 2026 – TargetSmart, the leading provider of political data for Democratic campaigns and advocacy organizations, today announced a partnership with Victory Waves to make petition signature validation easier, more accurate, and more
The Best Data in Politics Is Now Even Better
The Best Data in Politics Is now even better Today, TargetSmart released the largest update in the history of its VoterBase national data file, dramatically expanding demographic coverage across the Democratic coalition. The strongest gains landed among younger voters, voters of color, and registered
South Jersey Assembly Wins
South Jersey Assembly Wins How Data, Messaging, and Precision Digital Targeting Delivered Six Wins in Competitive Districts Overview In the 2025 New Jersey State Assembly elections, TargetSmart helped deliver six Democratic victories across three highly competitive South Jersey districts (LD-3, LD-4, LD-8)—including a
Built for This: How MBP Targeting Outperformed Benchmarks to Help Flip AR HD-70
How Precise Digital Targeting Helped Flip Arkansas House District 70 for Under $1 Per Vote Overview In the March 2026 Arkansas Special Election for House District 70, TargetSmart’s Media Buying Platform (MBP) helped power a decisive Democratic victory. Democratic candidate Alex Holladay won
Spencer Pratt’s Viral Campaign Shows the Promise — and Limits — of Social-First Politics
Spencer Pratt's Viral Campaign Shows the Promise — and Limits — of Social-First Politics Alexander Falco June 30, 2026 Spencer Pratt's Los Angeles mayoral bid became one of the clearest demonstrations in 2026 that social-media attention can be politically meaningful without being
Youth Vote Delivers Democratic Victory in Virginia’s Governor Race
Following Donald Trump’s victory a year ago, last Tuesday’s elections in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia and dozens of other states served as the Democrats’ first major chance to make their opposition heard at the polls. It’s been well-reported (and understood) how in
