Examining Political Influence in VA Political Ads

Use VPAP to view political ads in an uncluttered, clickbait-free environment. 

Note that you can view:

• the sponsor of the ad
• when it aired
• in which localities it played
• how many times it aired on TV 

Do you notice any trends in the content of ads that air in different parts of Virginia? 

You can explore trends over time within a single election cycle, examining ads week by week. You can also explore trends over the years since 2017. 

From May to November, how does the language in campaign ads change? How does the tone vary? Are ads more negative or positive over time? Do they focus more on the candidate or attacking their opponent? 

These political ads serve as a rich information source for lessons on the role of media in Virginia's political process.