GOP candidates sidestep Trump in midterm ads as Democrats and outside groups spend $145 million mentioning him, versus $8 million by Republicans

Republican candidates are avoiding references to Donald Trump in campaign advertisements during the final weeks before the midterms, including in deep-red districts where they had previously featured him prominently. Some hope his presence will energize the MAGA base ahead of November, while others are reluctant to appear with him on the campaign trail.

A Politico analysis of AdImpact data found that Democratic House and Senate candidates and outside groups spent $145 million on general-election ads mentioning Trump, compared with $8 million by Republicans. In 2024, Republican candidates allocated $62 million to ads referencing him.