--- title: The AdVantage | April 2025 description: Your Edge in A Shifting Political Cycle | A historic primary in New Jersey, a spike in Fox News ad spend, and more trends campaigns need to watch now. --- [Blogs ](https://adimpact.com/blogs) # [The AdVantage | April 2025](https://adimpact.com/blogs/the-advantage-april-25) Written by [Nate Schwartz](https://adimpact.com/blogs/author/nate-schwartz) | May 6, 2025 6:50:45 PM ### The AdVantage: Your Edge in a Shifting Political Cycle In this issue: a historic  primary in New Jersey, a spike in Fox News ad spend, and more trends campaigns need to watch now.  | ## 2021 Spending to Date $191.4M | ## 2025 Spending to Date $385.6M | | --- | --- |   This edition's trivia: *Which NYC  Mayoral candidate saw the most ad support in 2021? **(Answer is at the end of the newsletter)* ## Advertisers Target the President's Eyes Spending on Fox News has surged in 2025, as  advertisers hope to reach President Trump's eyes on the network. Through April, Fox News has seen $19.0M in national spending, representing 69% of all national network spending. In previous off-cycle years, the network has seen considerably less activity in the early months: 2023 saw $11.6M (although $8.3M was Presidential) and 2021 saw less than $1M. The top national spender is the healthcare group Seniors 4 Better Care, which has spent $6.5M.   Their main ad tells viewers  [to tell Congress to stand with President Trump and repeal the "Biden Pill Penalty."](https://host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/59c3df32-e4b5-4265-a9e8-fdad7e6d408c/?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) There's also $4.3M from the Department of Homeland Security, which aired a   [controversial ](https://www.newsweek.com/kristi-noem-tv-ad-hunt-migrants-ban-2062552?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) [immigration ad](https://adm0.page.link/tuY8?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa).   Additionally, advertisers have targeted the West Palm Beach market, home to Mar-A-Lago, in hopes of catching the President's attention. A total of $3.1M has been spent in the market in the first four months of 2025, compared to $629K in the same timeframe in 2023 and $183K in 2021. Cable makes up 69% of the spending, likely targeting the local Fox News cable networks. The top advertisers in the West Palm Beach market are the  [America First Steel Alliance](https://adm0.page.link/qo2x?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa), Seniors 4 Better Care, and the Department of Homeland Security. While this is primarily  issue spending, there has been one advertiser targeting a candidate. Standing for Texas has  [aired ads in Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach supporting Wesley Hunt](https://adm0.page.link/mo4q?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa), the Congressman from Texas' 38th Congressional District who is rumored to run for Senate next year. The group's overall spend is $1.7M, with $99K going to D.C. and West Palm Beach.  [The President acknowledged Standing for Texas's ad](https://x.com/PatrickSvitek/status/1909700689925710275?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa). ## New Jersey's Historic Gubernatorial Primary The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial primary has already seen $51.1M in spending and reservations, making it the most expensive New Jersey gubernatorial race on record. The 2017 race saw $21.2M, while the 2021 race saw $38.0M. Most of the money in 2021 came in the general election, where it saw $30.1M.   For this primary, most of the expenditure comes from Democratic advertisers, with their congested primary netting over $40M alone. Current NJ-05 Representative, Josh Gottheimer, has seen the most ad support at $18.2M. Steven Fulop, the current Jersey City mayor, is closely behind with $14.5M. Fulop's campaign has spent $7.4M, and he's seen an additional $7.1M in support from Coalition for Progress. Most  of the pro-Gottheimer expenditures has come from issue groups: Affordable New Jersey has spent $12.1M and No Surrender PAC has spent $1.9M. Gottheimer's campaign reserved $4.1M earlier this week. Other Democratic candidates in the primary have received considerably less ad support, including  Sean Spiller ($8.5M), Ras Baraka ($1.7M), Mikie Sherrill ($1.4M), and Steve Sweeney ($805K).   On the Republican side, Jack Ciattarelli has seen $3.0M in ad support, the top GOP candidate. Ciattarelli previously ran for New Jersey Governor in 2017 and 2021. Jon Bramnick, current NJ state senator, has seen $948K in ad support. Lastly, Bill Spadea, former radio show host, has seen $849K in ad support, but issue group Kitchen Table Conservatives has spent $1.0M against him.  ## Everything Else Happening Across the Country New York City Mayoral primary kicks off: Issue group Fix the City placed $5.8M in ads supporting Andrew Cuomo, set to run to the June primary date. Zohran Mamdani's campaign placed $187K as well. There's $200K elsewhere in the election, all attacking Cuomo so far.   **The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial primary remains quiet**:  As of April, only $368K has been spent, compared to $7.5M by the same point in the 2021 primary. There has yet to be a linear ad in the 2025 primary so far.   One Nation begins targeting Senate races:  Republican Senate group One Nation was the highest spending advertiser in April, spending $5.2M across Georgia, North Carolina, and Maine. They aired healthcare-related ads in the three states,  [attacking  Jon Ossoff](https://adm0.page.link/4Jmn?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa), while praising   [Susan Collins](https://adm0.page.link/VCzY?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) and   [Thom Tillis](https://adm0.page.link/32V5?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa). One Nation also aired an ad  [about transgender athletes](https://adm0.page.link/FL76?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa)  in Georgia.    | From Our Desk Forget Static: CTV Levels Up With New Ad Formats... Read here | | --- |   | | # The Impact \| TV Insights \| Q1 ROUNDUP... [Read here](https://adimpact.com/blogs/tv-insights-q1-round-up?utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) | | --- | --- |   | ## AdImpact In the News | | --- | | [Gottheimer funnels $10 million from congressional campaign into group supporting bid for gov](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/gottheimer-campaign-finance-super-pac-00292538?utm_content=330532919&hss_channel=tw-752608758476468224&utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) -Madison Fernandez,  *Politico* [Kristi Noem’s Made-for-TV Approach to Homeland Security ](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/kristi-noem-trump-dhs-ice-deportations-ba8e03ba?utm_content=330397848&hss_channel=tw-752608758476468224&utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) -Michelle Hackman,*  Wall Street Journal* [Crime-related TV ads consumed $27 million of spending in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/04/10/wisconsin-supreme-court-race-had-27-million-in-crime-focused-tv-ads/83007602007/?utm_content=329992743&hss_channel=tw-752608758476468224&utm_campaign=EX_AdVantage_Q224&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96F63MBINl61lkKyZ7g-lBt_CWLmtH33RQCPckH3qdDIJBB09k-2iOCcFm2R6Pym_EYRJa) -Daniel Bice and Alison Dirr,  *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*   *Trivia answer: Eric Adams ($15.0M)* | | --- | [View full post](https://adimpact.com/blogs/the-advantage-april-25) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nate Schwartz" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-06T18:50:45.708Z", "datePublished" : "2025-05-06T18:50:45Z", "headline" : "The AdVantage | April 2025", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://9415819.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/9415819/hubfs/The%20AdVantage%20%287%29.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=The%20AdVantage%20%287%29.png", "width" : 1200 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://adimpact.com/blogs/the-advantage-april-25", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "blogs" } } ```