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'If You Can Keep It': The Rising Cost Of Running A Campaign : 1A Maryland is one of three states holding primaries tomorrow. It's also attracting outsized national attention because of the outsized amount of money being spent.

Maryland's Senate race is the third most expensive nationwide behind California and Texas. That's thanks largely to the self-financed campaign of wealthy Democrat David Trone. He currently serves in the House.

He's part of a wave of self-funded candidates nationwide. That rise coincides with the ever-surging cost of funding a campaign. Political ad spending in the 2024 election cycle is expected to exceed $16 billion.

We discuss the cost of campaigns and how they're funded.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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'If You Can Keep It': The Rising Cost Of Running A Campaign

'If You Can Keep It': The Rising Cost Of Running A Campaign

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The United States of America flag in the Manhattan borough of New York. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

The United States of America flag in the Manhattan borough of New York.

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

We're heading to Maryland. Well, talking about Maryland.

It's one of three states holding primaries tomorrow, but it's attracting outsized national attention because of the outsized amount of money being spent.

Maryland's Senate race is the third most expensive nationwide behind California and Texas. That's thanks largely to the self-financed campaign of wealthy Democrat David Trone. He currently serves in the House.

He's part of a wave of self-funded candidates nationwide. That rise coincides with the ever-surging cost of funding a campaign. Political ad spending in the 2024 election cycle is expected to exceed $16 billion.

Have campaigns gotten too expensive? What reform would you like to see to how political campaigns are funded?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.