Trump's Aggressive Midterm Campaigning Outpaces 2018 Efforts
President Trump is on a campaign tear in 2026, hitting the ground running with more events than he did at this point in 2018, despite a dismal approval rating that mirrors the conditions leading to the Republican loss of 40 House seats in that election cycle.
Today, Trump heads to Georgia, a battleground state featuring a critical Senate race and a tight gubernatorial contest. This marks yet another instance of Trump actively supporting candidates in competitive districts, having already campaigned with a dozen candidates in toss-up elections this year.
His approval rating is significantly underwater, worse than in 2018 when Republicans lost control of the House. Typically, presidents with low ratings step back from competitive races, allowing local candidates to manage their own campaigns. In 2006, for example, then-President George Bush recognized he wouldn’t help Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Charlie Dent in a tough re-election fight.
Dent recalled, “George Bush understood that he wasn't going to be an asset in my district at that time. He didn't take it personally. He understood. He wanted me to win.”
Trump, however, is not adhering to this traditional strategy. Earlier this year, he rallied for Rep. Mike Lawler, one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress.
“Mike Lawler's fantastic,” Trump declared at Rockland Community College. “He's fantastic.”
In 2026, Trump has already made more campaign-related trips than during the same timeframe in 2018. At a rally in Florida this May, he highlighted candidates on the ballot, including Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is leading in polls.
“He's so far ahead in the polls, I don't have to ask him to come up,” Trump stated about Donalds. “You know what my theory is? When you're up by more than 20 points, I don't want to waste the time, OK.”
At his rallies, Trump remains the focal point. In 2026, he is positioned to dominate the midterms.
White House chief of staff Suzie Wiles discussed the strategy of keeping Trump front and center during an interview with a pro-Trump podcast. “Typically in the midterms, it's not about who's sitting at the White House. You localize the election and you keep the federal officials out of it,” she explained. “We're actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters.”
Trump's success in 2024 stemmed from energizing disengaged voters who typically don’t participate in elections but rallied behind him. Without his presence on the ballot, these voters may stay home while Democratic voters are generally more motivated and reliable during non-presidential election years.
A Republican official noted, “Candidates want the president in their district. They know he's a huge plus to get out the vote for us. The narrative that people shouldn't be running with him is totally false.”
The objective is to mobilize Trump's coalition from 2024 for the upcoming midterms, reminding less engaged voters that an election is approaching.
To support this effort, Trump announced a rare midterm convention set for September in Dallas.
“This president is the best showman that's ever existed,” RNC chairman Joe Gruters said while promoting the convention. “And why not highlight him and put him front and center and do the Trumpapalooza.”
The term "Trumpapalooza" underscores his central role in this year's midterms, a reality likely unavoidable regardless of party strategy.
Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene remarked on recent special elections since November 2024, stating, “Democrats are running ahead. People are tired of what they've seen from this administration. Their life has gotten harder.”
“Republicans can't run away from that,” she added.
Former Rep. Charlie Dent advised swing district Republicans to keep Trump as far away from their districts as possible. However, it appears few are heeding that advice as the White House promises an active campaign year for Trump with future stops planned in swing states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.
