The 2018 midterms could cost nearly $4 billion

Monday marks exactly one year before the 2018 midterm elections, and, in the true spirit of excessively long American campaign seasons, that means we will begin talking about next year's races before this year's election (Tuesday, Nov. 7) has even happened.

The 2018 campaign is expected to easily cost more than the $3.84 billion spent in America's last midterm cycle in 2014, McClatchy reports, with record-setting spending from candidates and political action committees alike. Priorities USA, a PAC that helped elect former President Barack Obama, is planning to drop $50 million on digital advertising alone, while the America First Action Super PAC, which supports President Trump, projects it will raise and spend $100 million. Control of Congress will be hotly contested, with the Republican majority facing external challenge from Democrats and internal challenge from Stephen Bannon's "war" on the GOP establishment.

2018 could also be marked by grassroots activism from Democrats comparable to 2010's Tea Party enthusiasm among Republicans. "This looks more like the Tea Party election, except from the left, than it does the more sedate 2014 election," Sarah Bryner of the Center for Responsive Politics told McClatchy — except, that is, with a lot more money involved.

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