Buying Time 2014

During the 2014 election cycle, the Brennan Center for Justice will release television advertisements and spending figures for this year’s state supreme court elections. Since 2000, the Brennan Center has been using this information to publish comprehensive analyses of special interest money and television spending in judicial elections. These analyses have culminated in seven iterations of the New Politics of Judicial Elections report series: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, Decade Report, 2009–10, and 2011–12.  

This year’s advertisements are available for viewing on the web and as storyboards. The storyboards contain screen captures of the ads at timed intervals, along with complete text. TV ads and storyboards are provided by the Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG). 

A comprehensive list of all contested and retention elections taking place November 4 can be found here. 

State Breakdowns

Arkansas | Idaho | Illinois | Michigan | Montana | North Carolina    Ohio | Tennessee | Texas

Real Time Analysis 

Throughout the election season the Brennan Center issued a series of analyses focused on judicial election spending 

• May 7, 2014: “North Carolina Judicial Primary Spending Exceeds $1.3 Million, Breaks Record”
• May 21, 2014: “TV Ad Spending in Arkansas Supreme Court Race Doubles from 2014”
• July 21, 2014: “Costly Judicial Retention Election Ads Ramp Up in Tennessee”
• July 23, 2014: “Barrage of Ads Hits Tennessee Airwaves in Judicial Retention Race: Americans for Prosperity Launches Radio Ad”
• August 7, 2014: “TV Spending Surges Past $1.4 Million in Tennessee Judicial Race”
• September 11, 2014: “State Judicial Elections to Watch”
• September 24, 2014: “TV Ads Buys Near Three-Quarters of a Million Dollars in NC Supreme Court Races”
• September 26, 2014: “TV Ads Buys in Michigan Supreme Court Races Near $700,000”
• October 7, 2014: “Candidate Spending in North Carolina Supreme Court Election Soars Past $1 Million”
• October 8, 2014: “National Conservative Group Begins Spending in Montana Supreme Court Race”
• October 10, 2014: “TV Ad Spending in Michigan Supreme Court Race Surges Past $1 Million”
• October 24, 2014: “TV Ad Spending in Judicial Races Surpasses $9.1 Million”
• October 28, 2014: “North Carolina Judicial Candidates Raise Record Breaking $2.9 Million”
• October 30, 2014: “Surge of Last Minute Outside Spending Hits State Supreme Court Races”
• November 5, 2014: “TV Ad Spending Reaches Nearly $14 Million in 2014 State Supreme Court Races”

Methodology

All data on ad airings and spending on ads are calculated and prepared by Kantar Media/CMAG, which captures satellite data in the nation’s largest media markets. CMAG’s estimates do not reflect ad agency commissions or the costs of producing advertisements, nor do they reflect the cost of ad buys on local cable channels. Cost estimates are revised by Kantar Media/CMAG when it receives updated data, resulting in some fluctuations in the reported ad spending.