Democratic Campaign Ads Mention Trump Amid Midterm Referendum Narrative

Bakersfield, CA, October 16, 2026 —

Democratic candidates and their allies have spent more than $163 million on television advertising that mentions President Trump since September 1, according to the trend summary. Their ads are contributing to a political narrative in which the current midterm elections are framed as a referendum on Trump’s presidency.

The summary describes Trump as wanting voters to view the elections in those terms. It does not provide a direct statement from Trump or explain how that desire was established. It also does not identify the candidates, allied groups, or advertisements involved.

The reported spending figure covers television campaigns that mention the president. The summary does not specify the source of the figure, the year associated with September 1, or the end date for the spending period. It also does not clarify whether the amount includes only ads already aired or other advertising expenditures.

Featuring a president in campaign advertising can make the president part of the election’s public messaging. In this case, the trend summary says Democratic candidates and their allies are contributing to the referendum narrative by including Trump in their television campaigns. It does not provide details about the ads’ wording, their intended audiences, or how viewers have responded.

The available information does not include a comparison with spending by other political groups, a breakdown of the reported amount, or polling on whether voters see the midterms as a judgment on Trump’s presidency. As a result, the summary establishes the reported scale and general focus of the advertising, but leaves those broader questions unanswered.

Story summarized from the original created by JILL COLVIN and AARON KESSLER, Associated Press on www.kget.com, see more information here.

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