Twice the gift, twice the investigations
46%
of $10,000 goal
Thanks to a generous Center board member, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000 from now through Thanksgiving (Nov 27, 2014). Join 43 readers in supporting independent, nonprofit investigative journalism.

Massachusetts

U.S. Senate State-level Ballot measures
current through October 27, 2014 — updates Thursdays
includes preliminary data for most recent week
Who's calling the shots?: State ad wars tracker:
TV ads in 2014 state races
$19.8 million
estimated TV ad spending on
state races in the 2014 cycle
What's behind these numbers?
$4.12
per eligible voter
17,900
times ads ran
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.

Kantar Media/CMAG monitors TV signals for political advertising nationwide, capturing ads each time they run. Then, using a proprietary formula, it estimates how much placing each ad costs.

Like any estimate, it's imperfect. Here's what it covers, and what it doesn't:

  • Just placement on TV — The estimate only covers TV ads, not other kinds of political messages, such as ads that appear on radio or online. The estimate also only includes how much money a candidate or organization spent to place the ad, not to make it.
  • No local cable — Kantar Media monitors local broadcast TV in all 210 media markets, as well as national network and national cable TV advertising. If an ad runs on a local cable channel, it won't be counted here.
  • Any political ad — Unlike records filed at the Federal Elections Commission, this information includes so-called “issue ads” that mention a Senate candidate but don’t overtly call for the candidate’s election or defeat. Unless run immediately before a primary or general election, issue ad spending does not have to be reported to the FEC.
  • No future ads — Unlike some records from the Federal Communications Commission, it only counts ads that have already run. Future ad buys are not included.
  • Subject to dispute — Since the estimate is based on a formula, it may not exactly reflect what placing the ad actually cost. Think of the cost estimate as a well-informed guess, which can provide useful points of comparison.

Have more questions? Try this FAQ »

close
Governor
$15.8 million
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Commonwealth Future Independent Expenditure PAC
est. total $5.9 million
ran 717
mixed ads
$1.3 million
targeting Martha Coakley 
D

2,209
negative
$3.6 million
targeting Martha Coakley 
D

1,050
positive
$1.1 million
supporting Charlie Baker 
R
Mass Independent Expenditure PAC
est. total $3.9 million
ran 1,656
negative ads
$2.9 million
targeting Charlie Baker 
R

467
positive
$995,600
supporting Martha Coakley 
D

Charlie Baker 
R
DONORS
est. total $1.6 million
Unitemized Donations
$1.2 million
Charles D Baker
$56,800
Shirley Bragel
$3,000
Frank Granara
$2,750
James Crowley
$2,500
John McArthur
$2,500
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 428
mixed ads
$338,500
targeting Martha Coakley 
D

1,352
positive
$1.3 million
supporting Charlie Baker 
R

Massachusetts Democratic State Committee
est. total $1.1 million
ran 292
mixed ads
$225,000
targeting Charlie Baker 
R

959
positive
$873,700
supporting Martha Coakley 
D

Martha Coakley 
D
DONORS
Public Fund
$309,000
Afscme Council 93
$8,000
Electrical Workers Local 103
$5,499
Painters, Allied Trades District Council 35
$5,000
Paychex -- Payroll Adjustment
$4,666
Unitemized Donations
$3,369
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 20, 2014.
ran 709
positive ads
est. $726,000
supporting Martha Coakley 
D

Steve Grossman 
D
DONORS
Unitemized Donations
$1 million
Steven Grossman
$200,000
Teamsters Local 122
$6,000
Boston Carmens Local 589
$5,500
I.U.O.E. Local #4
$5,000
National Government Employees
$2,500
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 469
positive ads
est. $711,200
supporting Steve Grossman 
D

Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Republican Party
ran 728
positive ads
est. $536,800
supporting Charlie Baker 
R

Don Berwick 
D
DONORS
est. total $445,100
Unitemized Donations
$758,900
Public Fund
$309,000
Donald Mark Berwick
$50,300
Donald Berwick
$50,000
Berkley Insurance Company
$3,161
Theodore R Marmor Phd
$2,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 93% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 20, 2014.
ran 319
mixed ads
$276,400
targeting Martha Coakley 
D

Steve Grossman 
D

176
positive
$168,600
supporting Don Berwick 
D

Mass Forward Independent Expenditure PAC
est. total $396,300
ran 329
mixed ads
$304,900
targeting Martha Coakley 
D

54
positive
$91,400
supporting Steve Grossman 
D
Evan Falchuk 
I
DONORS
est. total $366,100
Evan J Falchuk
$1.4 million
Unitemized Donations
$489,700
Payroll Tax Adjustment
$2,604
Nancy Falchuk
$2,000
Jay Driscoll
$1,500
Bradley Falchuk
$1,500
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 149
mixed ads
$116,300
targeting Charlie Baker 
R

Martha Coakley 
D

673
positive
$249,800
supporting Evan Falchuk 
I

Jeff McCormick 
I
DONORS
Jeffrey S McCormick
$680,000
Unitemized Donations
$191,700
Carolyn Aliski
$1,000
William Aliski
$1,000
Daniel Cronin
$1,000
Todd Domke
$1,000
13 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 94% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 43
mixed ads
est. $64,400
targeting Charlie Baker 
R

Martha Coakley 
D

State treasurer
$1.9 million
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Deb Goldberg 
D
DONORS
Deborah B Goldberg
$1.1 million
Unitemized Donations
$137,000
Afscme Council 93
$2,000
Carmen's Union Local 589
$2,000
I.U.P.A.t District Council #35
$1,500
Robert Allen
$1,000
94 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 80% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 1,264
positive ads
est. $1 million
supporting Deb Goldberg 
D

Barry Finegold 
D
DONORS
Barry R Finegold
$150,500
Unitemized Donations
$4,020
Adp
$1,312
Douglas J Ahern
$1,000
Greg P Alexandris
$1,000
Maria L Alexandris
$1,000
94 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 86% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 688
positive ads
est. $668,500
supporting Barry Finegold 
D

Tom Conroy 
D
DONORS
Jennifer Glass
$1,025
Eliza Anderson
$1,000
Michael Anderson
$1,000
Michael Bate
$1,000
Keith Gilbert
$1,000
Sharon Gillis
$1,000
13 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 86% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 155
positive ads
est. $88,400
supporting Tom Conroy 
D

Mike Heffernan 
R
DONORS
Michael Heffernan
$105,000
Michele Blackwood
$1,000
Jessica Del Prete
$1,000
Lee Heffernan
$1,000
Elizabeth Woods
$750
Alison Batchelder
$500
94 other donors gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 67% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 48
positive ads
est. $51,800
supporting Mike Heffernan 
R

Attorney general
$1.8 million
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Warren Tolman 
D
DONORS
Warren E Tolman
$120,500
Bridge, Structural Iron Workers - Union Local 7 (General Account)
$15,000
Sheet Metal Workers Local 17
$5,500
New England Regional Council of Carpenters New England Regional Council Of Carpenters
$5,000
Operating Engineers
$5,000
Bricklayers, Allied Craftsman Union, Local No. 3
$3,000
Six other donors gave $3,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 1,619
positive ads
est. $1.2 million
supporting Warren Tolman 
D

Maura Healey 
D
DONORS
Unitemized Donations
$205,800
Teamsters Local Union #25
$15,000
Inc. Dover Strategy Group
$2,500
Gerald Slavet
$1,250
Terence Healey
$1,200
Samuel Lovejoy
$1,162
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 76% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 20, 2014.
ran 569
positive ads
est. $556,700
supporting Maura Healey 
D

John Miller 
R
DONORS
John Miller
$50,000
Irene Madden
$1,000
Thomas Madden
$1,000
Paul Pender
$1,000
Sebastian Heersink
$625
Brendan Driscoll
$575
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 67% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 35
positive ads
est. $54,000
supporting John Miller 
R

Lieutenant governor
$160,200
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Steve Kerrigan 
D
DONORS
Public Fund
$309,000
Afscme Council 93
$8,000
Electrical Workers Local 103
$5,499
Painters, Allied Trades District Council 35
$5,000
Paychex -- Payroll Adjustment
$4,666
Unitemized Donations
$3,369
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 20, 2014.
ran 264
positive ads
est. $135,200
supporting Steve Kerrigan 
D

Leland Cheung 
D
DONORS
Leland Cheung
$119,000
Painters, Allied Trades District Council 35
$2,000
Eva Mok Chau
$1,000
Laurence Field
$1,000
Christian Hassold
$775
Antonia Shelzi
$600
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 41
positive ads
est. $24,900
supporting Leland Cheung 
D

State senator
$136,900
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
SENATE DISTRICT FIRST HAMPDEN AND HAMPSHIRE
Eric Lesser 
D
DONORS
Sonal Bhatia
$1,000
Sheila Walker
$1,000
Carol Wernick
$750
Shomik Dutta
$700
Karen G. Mills
$700
John Kupper
$650
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 37% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 2, 2014.
ran 264
positive ads
est. $87,400
supporting Eric Lesser 
D

Tim Allen 
D
DONORS
est. total $23,200
Corey J Allen
$4,480
Jerome Allen
$500
Rosa Allen
$500
Stephen Endsdorf
$240
Christine Blake
$200
Jacques Jean
$200
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 73% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 2, 2014.
ran eight
mixed ads
$3,100
targeting Eric Lesser 
D

50
positive
$20,100
supporting Tim Allen 
D

Debra Boronski 
R
DONORS
Debra Ann Boronski
$26,000
Bruce Barthelette
$500
Linda A Boucher
$500
Mike Boucher
$500
Daniel Burack
$500
Daniel S Burack
$500
15 other donors gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 86% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 2, 2014.
ran 40
positive ads
est. $13,600
supporting Debra Boronski 
R

James Harrington 
D
DONORS
James P. Harrington (Loan)
$5,000
James Harrington
$604
David Belanger
$500
Gregory Belanger
$500
Thomas Haluch
$500
Michael Harrington
$500
12 other donors gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 37% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 2, 2014.
ran 16
positive ads
est. $5,790
supporting James Harrington 
D

SENATE DISTRICT SECOND ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX
Pavel Payano 
D
ran 12
positive ads
est. $6,910
supporting Pavel Payano 
D

Secretary of state
$58,400
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Bill Galvin 
D
DONORS
Unitemized Donations
$138,700
Millwrights Local 1121
$1,500
Boston Fire Fighters Local 718
$1,000
Brockton Fire Fighters Local 144
$1,000
Enterprise Holdings
$1,000
Monte C. Ferris Sr.
$1,000
15 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 87% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 5, 2014.
ran 63
positive ads
est. $58,400
supporting Bill Galvin 
D

State representative
$3,830
$1.4 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
HOUSE DISTRICT NINTH HAMPDEN
Jose Tosado 
D
DONORS
Raji Abdo
$500
Jacques Abdoud
$500
Rizk Abiassaf
$500
Anis Alam
$500
Jorge Castellano
$500
Florentino Colon
$500
Five other donors gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 86% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 2, 2014.
ran 10
positive ads
est. $3,830
supporting Jose Tosado 
D

current through October 27, 2014 — updates Thursdays
includes preliminary data for most recent week
Who's calling the shots?: Ballot measures:
TV ads in 2014 state ballot measure races
$7.6 million
estimated TV ad spending on
ballot measures in the 2014 cycle
What's behind these numbers?
$1.57
per eligible voter
5,542
times ads ran
$871,800 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.

Kantar Media/CMAG monitors TV signals for political advertising nationwide, capturing ads each time they run. Then, using a proprietary formula, it estimates how much placing each ad costs.

Like any estimate, it's imperfect. Here's what it covers, and what it doesn't:

  • Just placement on TV — The estimate only covers TV ads, not other kinds of political messages, such as ads that appear on radio or online. The estimate also only includes how much money a candidate or organization spent to place the ad, not to make it.
  • No local cable — Kantar Media monitors local broadcast TV in all 210 media markets, as well as national network and national cable TV advertising. If an ad runs on a local cable channel, it won't be counted here.
  • Any political ad — Unlike records filed at the Federal Elections Commission, this information includes so-called “issue ads” that mention a Senate candidate but don’t overtly call for the candidate’s election or defeat. Unless run immediately before a primary or general election, issue ad spending does not have to be reported to the FEC.
  • No future ads — Unlike some records from the Federal Communications Commission, it only counts ads that have already run. Future ad buys are not included.
  • Subject to dispute — Since the estimate is based on a formula, it may not exactly reflect what placing the ad actually cost. Think of the cost estimate as a well-informed guess, which can provide useful points of comparison.

Have more questions? Try this FAQ »

close
3: Repeal the law that allows casinos
$4.4 million
$871,800 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Coalition to Protect Mass Jobs
ran 3,756
TV ads
est. $4.4 million
advocating for No
2: Expand bottle deposit
$3.1 million
$871,800 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
No on Question 2
ran 1,657
TV ads
est. $3.1 million
advocating for No
Coalition to Update the Bottle Bill
ran 18
TV ads
est. $48,300
advocating for Yes
1: Stop indexing gas tax to inflation
$66,600
$871,800 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
No on One Committee
ran 111
TV ads
est. $66,600
advocating for No

Source: Center for Public Integrity analysis of Kantar Media/CMAG, National Institute on Money in State Politics data
What's behind these numbers?