Trump vows to help Republicans campaign for midterm elections as he urges candidates to run on his record in White House
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Donald Trump has pledged to spend the final month before November's midterm elections campaigning intensively for Republican candidates, telling party members at a White House Rose Garden dinner that he will focus on 35 key races and warning that a Democratic takeover of Congress could trigger fresh impeachment efforts against him. The pledge comes as Republicans face a difficult path to retaining control of Congress, with polling showing Democrats ahead and doubts persisting over whether conservative voters will turn out when Trump himself is not on the ballot.
Trump said he would hold events, including "tele-town halls" reaching seven to ten candidates a night, while jokingly asking safe incumbents such as House Speaker Mike Johnson not to request his help. He urged vulnerable Republicans to campaign on his record, citing economic investment, lower drug prices and reduced border crossings, and singled out contested Senate races in Alaska, where Dan Sullivan faces Mary Peltola, and Texas, where Ken Paxton faces James Talarico. An exclusive Daily Mail/JL Partners poll in July put Democrats over nine points ahead, though Republicans have continued to significantly outpace Democrats in fundraising both nationally and in key battleground contests.
- Trump vows to campaign hard for Republicans in final month before midterms
- He'll focus on 35 races, warns of impeachment if Democrats win Congress
- Polls favour Democrats, but Republicans lead heavily in fundraising
New here? Start with this
Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for November's US midterm elections, when all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate's 100 seats are up for grabs. Control of either chamber would give the winning party significant power to block or advance President Trump's agenda, and history shows the party holding the White House usually loses ground in these contests.
Donald Trump, now well into his second term, has taken a hands-on role in the Republican campaign effort, targeting a shortlist of competitive races he sees as critical to keeping Congress in his party's hands. Among these are Senate contests in Alaska, where Republican Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola, and in Texas, where Republican Ken Paxton faces Democrat James Talarico. Both races are being watched closely as indicators of the wider national mood.
The stakes are heightened by the possibility that a Democratic-controlled Congress could pursue impeachment proceedings against Trump, a prospect he has referenced directly. Polling and fundraising figures are being tracked by both parties as early signals of how the election might unfold, though such indicators are not always reliable predictors of the eventual result.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that Trump remains the single most energising figure in Republican politics, capable of driving fundraising, media attention and grassroots turnout in ways no other surrogate can match, and that his direct involvement in dozens of contests reflects a sensible use of that asset while time remains before polling day. They contend that candidates should not run from a record they regard as strong on the economy, border security and other priorities, and that historically unfavourable midterm polling for the incumbent president's party is a familiar pattern rather than a verdict on any single strategy. On this view, personal campaigning, tele-town halls and full-throated backing of contested nominees, even ones facing ridicule, demonstrate loyalty and conviction that voters ultimately respect.
The case against
Critics counter that nationalising every race around one figure is precisely what risks the party's majority, since it hands Democrats a single, unifying target and discourages candidates from tailoring their message to local concerns that might otherwise win over undecided voters. They point to polling showing a clear Democratic lead as evidence that swing and independent voters may be fatigued or unpersuaded by the current record, making heavy reliance on Trump's personal brand, rather than distinct local appeals, a gamble rather than a safeguard. They also note that his own admitted uncertainty about turnout without him on the ballot underscores a structural weakness, and that defending polarising or heavily criticised candidates such as Paxton could alienate moderate voters the party needs to retain competitive seats.