Democrats Flood Midterm Ads with Trump References as Republicans Keep Them Low

AdImpact data show that Democratic candidates and their partners have placed a large number of advertisements mentioning Donald Trump on TV, radio and streaming services since early September, far outpacing the Republican side. Republican ads that name Trump have been run only a fraction of that volume. The Democratic ads often criticize Republican officeholders for voting with Trump on issues like tariffs, the Iran war authorization and related price increases in gasoline and food.

Specific examples include a Georgia Senate ad by Jon Ossoff that attacks Mike Collins for his Trump-aligned votes, and a Pennsylvania House ad that links Brian Fitzpatrick to Trump’s tariff policies. Democratic strategists say the messaging taps into voter anxiety over cost of living, while Republican spokespeople claim the focus on Trump reveals a lack of a clear policy agenda. Overall, the ad battle highlights how both parties are using the president as a political touchstone in the final stretch of the midterms.