‘We’re starting to see the little trickle’: Campaign ads pick up ahead of November election

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The November Election is fast approaching and candidates for local, state and national offices are ramping up their advertisements.

Time after time, you’ll see campaign sign after campaign sign and the number of those ads will only increase as we get closer to the general election.

From Bakersfield’s busy streets to quiet neighborhoods, election advertisements are everywhere.

It’s just the start for both Democrats and Republicans.

“We’re starting to see the little trickle of what’s going to be a huge wave of political ads both on TV, radio, text message, social media, mailers…”, said Kern County Democratic Party Chair Christian Romo. “You’re going to be bombarded this election cycle.”

Kern GOP leader Cathy Abernathy explained why ads are so extensive.

“The voters are voting for 35 days,” said Abernathy. “We, those of us who run campaigns, have no idea what day they’re going to vote, so your message has to be in their head.”

That’s because in California, each registered voter gets a vote-by-mail ballot about a month before the election.

“You’re going to get 5, 10, 20 mailers in the mail, I know that’s going to happen on both sides,” Romo said of how many more ads on many different platforms will soon arise. “So both [parties will] take the blame for that. But ultimately, the way to make that stop is to vote.”

On the importance of voter engagement, Abernathy added, “I have seen ads on television for medicine, so many of those ads, that I hope people understand this is the season for some political ads, so you can pay attention to it.”

One race Kern voters may already be seeing a lot of — the 22nd Congressional District battle between incumbent Republican David Valadao and Democratic challenger Rudy Salas — set to be one of the most competitive and expensive U.S. House races nationwide.

For tight races like this, outside groups like political action committees (PACs) often put in money too via independent expenditures.

“That’s because it’s all the money. So, candidates can only raise a certain amount of money,” Romo explained of outside involvement. “PACs are kind of free range. So, they can raise and spend as much money as they want.”

So, keep an eye on if an ad is paid for by said campaign or an outside group, in support of or opposition to that person.

The political experts also noted that the focus of local advertisements may differ from national ones, since Kern so heavily focuses on oil, water and agriculture.

Abernathy said she personally prefers to delve into issues in political mailers.

“Now, people get their news so many different ways. So, we constantly have to get to the voter through whatever mechanism they use,” she said.

Abernathy added, “The City Council race, the school board race, state legislative race, those races really depend on the locals paying attention,” addressing the point that for major races, California automatically leans blue, regardless of the Kern vote.

Upwards of 80% in voter turnout is anticipated nationwide, as well as here in Kern County. Romo said that’s why both parties are really trying to target each voter.

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