Recall Digital Spending Report Shows Democrats Spent $3.5M on Google Ads in 3 Months

A new report from Majority Strategies breaking down digital online advertising spending in the California Recall Election by the two political parties, various “advertisers” supporting candidates, and individual candidates, shows a great divide. Most evident of this divide was online advertising spending on Google and YouTube ads showing a huge gap of more than $3.2 million in spending, with Democrats buying more than $3.5 million of ads on Google and youtube, and Republicans spending only $241,000.

Chris Faulkner, Senior National Strategist with Majority Strategies said what is so interesting is that even in this digital age, only about 10% to 15% of total Recall Election advertising was spent online. “Spending continues to be skewed toward large broadcasters on television,” Faulkner said. “But at some point the political ad saturation on television gets to a an ineffective point. You can keep spending, but are not getting more of the effect.”

“In the military we use the expression ‘bouncing the rubble;’ you can bomb the shit out of something but you won’t get more of the effect,” Faulkner said.

However, Faulkner says “at the end of the day, people are going to go with the devil they know. You can never underestimate the power of self-satisfaction of politicians seeing their faces on television.”

Notably, Faulkner said Republicans has many small donors, and Democrats counted on large donors and labor to contribute.

“Anyone who tells you there is just one reason a campaign wins or loses is full of shit,” Faulkner said. “There are always a multitude of things that affect the outcome. Over simplified answers are for Twitter and cocktail parties.”

The largest digital recall spending involves the overall online advertising spending the last three months:

• In the last 3 months, Republicans have spent $1,364,609.00.
• In the last 3 months, Democrats have spent $5,381,625.00.

Republicans Latest Monthly overall spending: $696,651

Democrats Latest Monthly overall spending:  $3,579,183

The latest weekly overall spending “by advertiser” shows the top six are:

• Gavin Newsom $734,100
• Larry Elder $108,735
• Stop the Republican Recall $89,946
• Democratic Governors Association $43,176
• Rescue California $35,106
• Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO $16,864

The latest monthly overall spending “by advertiser” shows the top six are:

• Gavin Newsom $2,689,600
• Stop the Republican Recall $598,251
• Larry Elder $330,103
• Kevin Kiley $238,892
• Rescue California $139,421
• Democratic Governors Association $111,809

Majority Strategies broke the spending/advertising down by ad venue.

• In the last 3 months, Republicans has spent $1,123,589.00 on Facebook.
• In the last 3 months, Democrats have spent $1,858,325.00 on Facebook.

Republicans Latest Monthly Spend on Facebook: $551,460

Democrats Latest Monthly Spend on Facebook: $889,583

The latest daily spending “by advertiser” on Facebook shows the top six are:

• Rescue California $29,795
• Larry Elder $10,205
• Democratic Governors Association $7,996
• Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO $5,000
• Stop the Republican Recall $4,783
• Jenny Rae Le Roux $1,303

The latest weekly spending “by advertiser” on Facebook shows the top six are:

• Stop the Republican Recall $89,946
• Larry Elder $49,035
• Democratic Governors Association $43,176
• Rescue California $35,106
• Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO $16,864
• Jenny Rae Le Roux $7,354

The latest monthly spending “by advertiser” on Facebook shows the top six are:

• Stop the Republican Recall $598,251
• Kevin Kiley $238,892
• Larry Elder $214,003
• Rescue California $139,421
• Democratic Governors Association $111,809
• Jenny Rae Le Roux $51,096

The latest 3-month spending “by advertiser” on Facebook shows the top six are:

• Stop the Republican Recall $1,101,729
• Kevin Kiley $538,510
• Democratic Governors Association $422,720
• Larry Elder $374,154
• Rescue California $212,833
• Jenny Rae Le Roux $145,712

Spending on Google and YouTube ads showed a huge gap:

• In the last 3 months, Republicans have spent less than $250,000 on Google.
• In the last 3 months, Democrats have spent more than $3,5 million on Google.

The largest daily spending “by advertiser” on Google/Youtube shows the top spenders:

• Gavin Newsom $50,000
• Larry Elder $5,000
• Anthony Trimino $1,000

The largest weekly spending “by advertiser” on Google/Youtube shows the top spenders:

• Gavin Newsom $734,100
• Larry Elder $59,700
• Anthony Trimino $9,700
• Kevin Faulconer $1,000

The largest monthly spending “by advertiser” on Google/Youtube shows the top spenders:

• Gavin Newsom $2,689,600
• Larry Elder $116,100
• Anthony Trimino $18,300
• Kevin Faulconer $10,791

The largest 3-month spending “by advertiser” on Google/Youtube shows the top spenders:

• Gavin Newsom $3,523,300
• Larry Elder $205,300
• Anthony Trimino $22,600
• Kevin Faulconer $13,120