And with early voting to start Tuesday, the numbers keep climbing.
An alliance of the state's eight largest newspapers reviewed political advertising records kept by broadcast television stations in Akron/Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Youngstown.
The newspapers' review found that candidates in the races for governor and attorney general are spending the most on TV ads: $6.6 million and $5.2 million respectively.
Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's campaign has spent $3.2 million on TV ads in the five media markets reviewed by the newspapers. The Daily News says Strickland started airing ads early - around the May primary - and held onto advertising money during the summer.
John Kasich, the Republican hoping to unseat Strickland in November, started advertising this summer and saw his numbers climb in several political polls. He spent $3.4 million in the same five media markets.
Outside groups are contributing millions more to the governor's race.
In Columbus alone, the Republican Governors Association has spent $1,228,175 for 3,108, 30-second spots. That's 25.8 hours of anti-Strickland ads if run back to back.
Meanwhile, Building A Stronger Ohio - a pro-Strickland group backed by labor unions and the Democratic Governors Association - spent $511,525 for 845, 30-second spots in Columbus.
"People like to think that presidential years are the big years for money being spent on political ads. Actually, it's the gubernatorial year," says Don Spicer of Triumph Communications, which helps campaigns - mostly Democrats - purchase ads.
In the race for the attorney general, Democratic AG Richard Cordray's campaign spent $2.8 million for TV ad time in the five markets. That's compared to Republican challenger Mike DeWine's $2.4 million.
In the race for Ohio's open U.S. Senate seat, Republican Rob Portman has shelled out more than $2.4 million for TV ads - plus outside ad money from groups including the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Portman's opponent, Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, has spent less than $600,000 - with a bulk of that spent on TV ads during the primary against Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
The Daily News says campaigns will spend more on TV air time as the election draws closer.
"Oprah for women, football for men, baseball for older voters, especially with the Reds in it now," says Bob Clegg, of Midwest Communications and Media - a group that advises Republican campaigns about advertising. "And OSU football is big. That has every single demographic you could want: men, women, older, younger."
