Spending on Abortion-Related Ads Continues to Grow, Up 25% This Week
October 1- 8, 2026
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:
Estimated total spend on abortion-related ads this week: $7,404,649
Total number of abortion-related ads aired this week: 193
Spending on abortion-related ads is ↑up 24.8% this week compared to last week
Data as of 9:00 AM ET on 10/8
TOP THREE ADS THIS WEEK BY SPEND AND PARTY:
DEMOCRAT
Stop the Ban [watch the ad here]
Stop the Ban [watch the ad here]
Pine Tree State Prosperity [watch the ad here]
REPUBLICAN
Too Extreme for Idaho [watch the ad here]
South Dakota Conservative PAC [watch the ad here]
Security is Strength PAC [watch the ad here]
OTHER
Independent PAC [watch the ad here]
Idaho Civic Engagement Project [watch the ad here]
Justice for All MI [watch the ad here]
WHERE ADS AIRED THIS WEEK:
Top three media markets where abortion-related ads aired this week (by spend)
St. Louis, MO — Estimated spend: $1,434,155
Kansas City, KS-MO — Estimated spend: $1,432,479
Portland-Auburn, ME — Estimated spend: $1,266,320
TOP ISSUES APPEARING ALONGSIDE ABORTION IN ADS THIS WEEK
Healthcare
Donald Trump
Transgender Minors
Crime
Planned Parenthood
Data as of 9:00 AM ET on 10/08
MORE ABOUT FREE & JUST’S “REPRO RADAR”
How are ads identified?
This analysis is based on data from AdImpact’s ad library, which uses automatic content recognition software to capture broadcast advertising and much—though not all—CTV/OTT/streaming advertising. AdImpact uses AI-assisted language analysis to categorize ads by topic. This analysis includes ads tagged with “abortion” or “Planned Parenthood” as topics, as well as ads whose available transcripts include terms such as “abortion,” “reproductive,” “pro-life,” “pro-choice,” or “anti-choice.” Because topic tagging and transcripts are automated, the results may not capture every relevant ad and may include some ads where abortion is not the primary message.
How is spending calculated?
Spending amounts by ad are AdImpact estimates and should be treated as directional, not as advertiser- or platform-reported spending. They are most useful for comparing spending within the same media type (i.e., broadcast or CTV/OTT/streaming). AdImpact estimates spending based on detected airings, market and station information, and estimated costs per impression. These estimates do not account for price differences caused by fluctuations in demand or by candidate-versus-issue advertising rates. Broadcast estimates are generally more reliable than CTV/OTT/streaming estimates because broadcast monitoring is more comprehensive.
How quickly do new ads appear?
Broadcast ads are typically detected quickly and generally appear in the library within 24 hours. CTV/OTT/streaming ads can take longer to identify and may not appear for up to three to six days. Some CTV/OTT/streaming ads may not be trackable or captured at all.