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Week 8 – Maine and Arizona
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report This week we’re looking at Maine and Arizona, which have recorded 674,739 EV/AV votes combined so far. Both states are seeing notable early voting activity, with increases across nearly every county in Maine and strong gains in Arizona’s
Week 7 – Ohio and Nebraska
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Mail-in ballots are in voters’ hands across key states, and many have yet to be returned. Unlike early in-person voting, where ballots are typically cast at a voting location, EV/AV mail-in voting allows voters to receive a ballot
Week 6 – Virginia and Minnesota
A Weekly Inventory Intelligence Report Voting is officially underway in key states, adding a new layer to campaign strategy as Election Day approaches. This week, we’re looking at Virginia and Minnesota, where more than 515,000 early and absentee votes have already been cast combined
Beyond the Ballot: What’s Driving Black, Hispanic, and Young Voters
Beyond the Ballot: What's Driving Black, Hispanic, and Young Voters By Sara Stephenson and Nicole Brok Last week, we looked at what TargetSmart's national survey found about the congressional ballot: Black, Hispanic, and young voters are moving away from Trump and Republicans, but
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
