Trump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Democrats seem happy to oblige

President Donald Trump is urging voters in the upcoming midterm elections to focus solely on him, according to a recent Associated Press analysis. Democratic candidates and their allies have invested over $163 million in television advertising that references Trump, with nearly 180,000 mentions airing across multiple platforms. In contrast, Republicans have only aired ads about the president 16,000 times, costing an estimated $11 million.

Many Democrats' ads cast Republican opponents as siding with Trump on issues such as tariffs and the Iran war, which Democrats blame for causing higher costs for consumers. For instance, a Georgia Senate race ad claims that Republican nominee Mike Collins voted for Trump's Iran war and tariff policies, resulting in increased gas and grocery prices for Georgians.

The Democratic National Committee spokesperson, Natalie Baldassarre, criticized the Democrats' messaging as "hollowness" lacking a clear platform, stating that their $160 million investment is a way to express their "nothing to offer to the American people." Republicans, on the other hand, argue that Democrats' focus on Trump is an attempt to motivate their base to vote and equate a vote for a Republican candidate with supporting Trump.

Overall, Democrats have spent or plan to spend $1.8 billion in ads across various federal, state, and local elections, while Republicans have spent or reserved $2.2 billion nationwide.