Ever wondered if TV campaign ads genuinely sway elections? In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking study by John Sides, Lynn Vavreck, and Christopher Warshaw on the real-world impact of televised political advertising across US elections from 2000 to 2018.

We explore how TV ads influence voting behavior, discovering they're especially powerful in down-ballot races compared to presidential elections. Are voters really persuaded, or do ads mainly drive partisan turnout? How do these dynamics shape election results across various offices?

📖 Citation: Sides, John, Vavreck, Lynn, & Warshaw, Christopher. 2022. "The Effect of Television Advertising in United States Elections." American Political Science Review 116(2): 702–718. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305542100112X]

Have questions or thoughts? Engage with us at 📩 [email protected].

Let's decode the influence of media on politics together, one digestible episode at a time!