President Donald Trump has requested that voters treat the upcoming midterm elections as if he were personally appearing on the ballot. Democratic candidates and their supporters are responding to this request by centering much of their campaign messaging around the president.

How much is being spent on midterm elections ads?

According to an Associated Press analysis of AdImpact data, Democratic candidates and allies have spent more than $163 million on television advertising mentioning the president since Sept. 1. This massive spending effort includes airing advertisements that reference Trump on streaming services, cable, and broadcast networks nearly 180,000 times.

In contrast, Republican advertising efforts have focused less on the president. Data shows that Republicans have run ads mentioning him approximately 16,000 times, with an estimated cost of $11 million during the same period.

What is the focus of these ads?

Democratic messaging often links Republican opponents to the president's policies. Many ads accuse GOP candidates of prioritizing the president's agenda over the needs of voters. Specific areas of focus include:

  • Tariffs and their impact on grocery costs
  • The Iran war and rising gas prices
  • Health insurance premium increases

For example, the campaign of Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff released an ad attacking Rep. Mike Collins for his relationship with the president. The ad claims Collins's votes for Trump's policies caused costs to rise for Georgians.

What is the Republican response?

Republican National Committee spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre criticized the Democratic strategy. She stated that the spending reflects a lack of substance within the opposing party. Baldassarre said, “Democrats are lighting money on fire talking about President Trump because they have no agenda.”

FAQ

How many times have Trump-related ads aired?

Democratic-aligned ads have referenced the president nearly 180,000 times on various media platforms.

What is the Republican stance on this spending?

Spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre suggested the ads show the Democratic party has no agenda beyond investigation and impeachment.