Trump has campaigned more so far in 2026 midterms than he did at this point in 2018

President Trump is campaigning far more actively ahead of the 2026 midterm elections than he did at the equivalent point in 2018, breaking with the usual pattern of unpopular presidents keeping a low profile during midterms. The approach is notable because his approval rating is currently worse than it was in 2018, when Republicans lost control of the House as Democrats picked up 40 net seats, suggesting his team believes direct involvement will help rather than hinder vulnerable candidates.

By 22 July 2026, Trump had already appeared alongside roughly a dozen candidates in toss-up races, including a rally backing Representative Mike Lawler in New York and an appearance at The Villages in Florida in support of several candidates on the ballot. White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles said the strategy deliberately inverts the usual midterm playbook, aiming to put Trump "on the ballot" to mobilise less-engaged supporters who might otherwise stay home. A rare Republican midterm convention is also planned for Dallas in September, though not all Republicans support the tactic: former Representative Charlie Dent said swing-district candidates should keep the president "as far away as possible," drawing a comparison to President Bush staying away from competitive races in 2006.