Midterm Attack Ads: A Disturbing Showcase of Political Desperation

Historic levels of ad spending have turned the midterm elections into a battleground of shocking and inappropriate attack ads, with candidates resorting to tactics that many deem damaging to their own campaigns.

This election cycle has shattered records, with $11.2 billion allocated for ads and future reservations, making it the most expensive in history. Texas alone has seen ad spending peak at half a billion dollars, primarily favoring Republican candidates. Initial estimates for this seat were set at $124 million, but that figure was revised to a staggering $446 million by June.

The content of these ads has raised eyebrows, with several examples drawing widespread criticism for their poor taste and questionable political instincts.

One of the most egregious examples came from the Ohio gubernatorial race, where Republican Vivek Ramaswamy aired an attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his opponent, Democrat Amy Acton. In the ad, Donna Arthur labels her daughter a "liar" with a "serious problem," while Ramaswamy's campaign committed $4 million to air it statewide.

The backstory is grim: Acton has accused her stepfather of raping her as a child, leading to his arrest. Arthur lost custody of her children due to this situation and remained estranged from Acton. The fallout was immediate, with bipartisan backlash against Ramaswamy, including discomfort from fellow Republicans. His campaign's defense—that Acton is a “serial fabulist”—only fueled further criticism.

Since the ad's release, Acton's odds in prediction markets have surged by approximately 10 percent.

In Michigan, Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed faced backlash for an outside PAC ad that claimed U.S. aid to Israel was a key factor in America's cost of living crisis. The ad depicted a couple in a grocery store discussing the high price of eggs, with the woman attributing their financial woes to military spending in Gaza.

This ad was never broadcast but gained traction on social media after being shared by political commentator Cenk Uygur. El-Sayed's Republican opponent accused him of promoting “anti-Israel hate,” while the Anti-Defamation League labeled it antisemitic. El-Sayed distanced himself from the ad, emphasizing his focus on economic issues affecting Michiganders.

The Maine Senate race has also seen its share of tasteless ads. Democratic candidate Troy Jackson has repeatedly labeled incumbent Senator Susan Collins as "corrupt," while Collins's camp has highlighted Jackson's familial ties to his partner, Lana Pelletier.

Pro-Collins groups have taken this to extremes, with one GOP-linked super PAC airing a satirical radio ad branding Jackson a “creep” and a “freak” for having children with his cousin. Political science professor Mark Brewer remarked that he had “never seen anything like” this ad in Maine politics.

Collins herself condemned the ad, claiming she had “nothing to do with” it and calling for its removal.

In another instance, Republican Ashley Hinson's campaign released an ad accusing her opponent Josh Turek of “making s*** up” regarding her financial dealings. The ad featured women declaring Turek “full of s***,” which quickly drew attention online, particularly from Turek's supporters who alleged that Hinson used out-of-state actresses.

Collins's campaign also launched an ad featuring retired sportscaster Bill Green, who criticized the state of Maine politics while endorsing Collins. His comments about Jackson were perceived as belittling blue-collar workers and failing to recognize Jackson’s extensive legislative experience.

Critics have pointed out that Collins has spent decades in Washington and seems disconnected from the struggles of working-class Mainers. The Maine AFL-CIO echoed this sentiment, stating that they do not need more millionaires in Congress.

Collins has faced her own barrage of personal attacks during this election cycle, describing it as “unique in Maine’s history” due to the volume of personal assaults. During a debate, Jackson accused Collins of profiting from the Iran war and brought up her husband’s connections to AI-linked firms and defense contractors.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton, Gray R. Thomas