The Six Wild Campaign Ads Definitely Not Destined for the Paley Center

Campaign adverts for the 2026 US midterm elections have cost a record $11.6 billion, prompting a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the cycle’s stranger political spots. The article argues that the spending produced little meaningful cultural output, but left behind a handful of memorable adverts that reveal how candidates tried to attract attention.

Examples include North Carolina candidate Jennifer Balkcom recalling her mother shooting a home intruder, and Tennessee governor candidate Marsha Blackburn smashing fortune cookies while warning about Chinese land purchases. The article says foreign countries own more than 2.4% of Tennessee land, but China ranks ninth among those countries, with Canada owning more. It also mentions a campaign video featuring Barack Obama playing basketball with Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek.