From Vox · Cameron Peters · · 1m 20s
Trump puts himself on the ballot
With fewer than 50 days until midterms, Trump is hitting the campaign trail despite deep unpopularity with voters.
In brief
With fewer than 50 days until midterms, Trump is hitting the campaign trail despite deep unpopularity with voters. Trump is spending heavily and campaigning for Republicans in the 2026 midterms, but his deep unpopularity may hurt rather than help the party's chances. Originally reported by Vox.
Trump rallies for midterms
Trump held his first major post-primary rally in North Carolina, urging voters to "pretend I'm on the ticket, because essentially I am."
“pretend I'm on the ticket, because essentially I am”
The unpopularity problem
Polls show Trump is deeply unpopular with voters right now. He's more likely to drag a ticket down than boost it.
Massive super PAC spending
Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC has booked $138 million in ads. The group has around $400 million in the bank total.
Other ways to spend it
Trump has a long list of other things he could spend that money on instead, like legal fees, travel, or his eventual presidential library.
The map looks dire
With little time left and mail-in ballots already going out, the map is looking fairly dire for Republican hopes.
Trump's other problems
Fuel shortages from the Iran war are worsening, he's picked the wrong side on AI, and voters are still extremely mad about inflation.
What to remember
Trump is spending heavily and campaigning for Republicans in the 2026 midterms, but his deep unpopularity may hurt rather than help the party's chances.
