New Mexicans are suddenly seeing plenty of political ads mixed in with their favorite TV shows.
But most of those ads – seeking support for county races up to the Democratic presidential race – will end for a time when Tuesday’s primary election is settled.
Here’s a look at the $273,740 spent or scheduled on more than 5,000 TV ads aimed at primary elections:
New Mexico In Depth analyzed reports filed with the Federal Communications Commission and contracts obtained from Comcast Spotlight, which sells cable and satellite advertising in New Mexico.
Topping the list of advertisers in terms of spending is Bernalillo County district attorney candidate Raul Torrez, who is spending more than $119,000 on more than 1,000 ads on traditional, cable and satellite TV.
His Democratic opponent, Ed Perea, has booked almost 181 ads at a cost of $11,000.
But Hugh Ley, one of four Democratic candidates for Senate District 39, tops the list in terms of number of ads. Cable customers in the Las Vegas area will see nearly 2,500 ads for Ley, who went on the air May 16. They are running on CNBC, CNN, ESPN and other networks through Monday.
Ley’s campaign has a contract with Comcast Spotlight for $23,542.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is spending more than $62,700 on 710 ads, while frontrunner Hillary Clinton is spending more than $41,000 for 400 ads.
Other candidates running ads aimed at the primary are Bernalillo County clerk candidate Linda Stover and Public Regulation Commissioner Karen Montoya. Both are Democrats.
Conservation Voters New Mexico Verde Voters PAC has spent $15,966 on ads with Comcast, all opposing Montoya’s reelection. Details on how many ads were purchased on what networks aren’t included, because broadcasters aren’t required to make public political ads by independent spenders on state level issues.
Neither Cynthia Hall, Karen Montoya’s opponent, nor Roman Montoya, Stover’s opponent, are airing ads.