What should both party's strategies be for the midterms?

[ProgressiveModerate]

Obviously we're far out, and a lot can happen, but generally what types of messaging should the parties go with, what types of voters should they target, where should they play defense/offence, ect.

I think one unique feature of this midterm is that Democrats are starting from a stronger place down ballot. There are a ton of places where Dems have incumbency in Trump 2024 districts/states (and not much of the reverse), meaning that even if it's a good year for Dems, they just have less low hanging fruit. Perhaps this means Republicans have greater opportunity to put Democrats on the defense in many places, but could also mean Democrats have more ability to try and expand the map to places they don't usually win.


I think Republican's biggest concern would be just getting their voters out. As the parties have increasingly ideologically sorted along education, social trust, and civic engagement, we've increasingly seen Republicans have turnout problems in some lower profile off elections.

For Democrats, I actually think their concern is similar which is just disengagement - because Trump has been around so long more people just start to tune out. Trump hasn't been inaugurated yet, but so far it feels like there's a lot less anti-Trump resistance than in 2016.

It also seems like Democrats will have a bigger question about how they want to brand themselves which comes with a lot of potential but could also lead to problems if they do a bad job or fail to develop a coherent party image.

A big wildcard is of course Trump's popularity and generally how the Country is doing - however, my "hot" take is this matters less than many would assume, and this midterm primarily comes down to turnout.



As a liberal who hopes Democrats do well, my suggestion would be to try and use more humor/irony/fun in messaging to try and prevent disengagement. If you have a very "serious" message with nothing else, it's easy to see how that could make a lot of potential voters just feel unhappy or depressed and cause them to just tune out.

I also think trying to outreach in a way that targets only possible Dem voters - I think trying to keep the midterms more "low-key" could hurt Republican turnout, and the less public opposition Republicans see I think the harder it'll be for them to get their less reliable voters out.

I also think a huge goal for Democrats that will tell me if it's a successful midterm is if Democrats can win statewide (particularly federal) races in any of the 24 states Trump won by double-digits this year. Being non-viable in 24/50 states is just not sustainable. Even if we flip the House and make gains in the Senate, I would still be pretty unsatisfied if we won no statewide elections in OH/IA/TX/AK/FL/KS/ect. Of course, all of the states on this list will be tough lifts for obvious reasons, but 2026 would definitely be the year to try.

[Unbeatable Titan Susan Collins]

GOP Strategy.

There are 11 Democrats in Trump won seats in the House, they should be part of the focus. Even in 2018 the GOP was able to pick up seats.

Trump is good at exciting the base. He should be deployed to most states to help with that.

In the Senate they need to avoid primaries in the key states (ME, NC, MI, GA).

I do not see democrats winning a federal race in a Trump double digit state (other then maybe Ohio) 

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

Ds follow the 319/219 map

[Mr. Smith]

GOP: Whine about immigrants again. Nabbed them Indiana and Missouri in 2018.

DEMS: Healthcare and any general anti-incumbent feelings that midterms normally generate.

[Empress Beatrix]

GOP Strategy.

There are 11 Democrats in Trump won seats in the House, they should be part of the focus. Even in 2018 the GOP was able to pick up seats.

Trump is good at exciting the base. He should be deployed to most states to help with that.

In the Senate they need to avoid primaries in the key states (ME, NC, MI, GA).

I do not see democrats winning a federal race in a Trump double digit state (other then maybe Ohio) 

They definitely won’t be able to avoid primaries in ME and NC. Tillis was censured by the state party for voting for the Respect for Marriage Act and Gun control, and Collins voted to convict Trump in the impeachment trial.

A statewide incumbent like Kemp could clear things up for Georgia.

Unsure about Michigan

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

GOP there might be a Govt shutdown, hope there is not one
Dems concentrate on H and Govs big 3 AZ, MI and KS and  Senate winning NC and ME we can win WI and get the majority back in 28

[GAinDC]

Dems: focus on stopping oligarchy and increasing accountability. I really think the oligarchy message is breaking through. That image of Zuckerberg, Bezos and Musk sitting in the front row of the inauguration will haunt Republicans I think. Americans use their platforms every day so it makes the concern about oligarchy more real. Shore up your incumbents and recruit people for Congressional and local races who are real and relatable — since MAGA world is increasingly odd. Stay away from thorny culture war issues, except abortion, and focus on oligarchy and accountability. Also go on more podcasts! In fact, host them yourself.

Republicans: invest in off year turnout. You have to convince the Trump voters that he needs congressional majorities and allies in the states to enact his agenda. Talk about all the conservative priorities you’ve delivered and create a narrative that Dems are waiting in the wings to block that agenda. If you’ve made progress on inflation and interest rates, talk about it relentlessly. And continue to be incredibly vocal on new media platforms to reach those low info voters.

[Tekken_Guy]

GOP: Take advantage in the media ecosystem that have worked to the party's benefit in 2024. It's kept presidents like Milei and Meloni way more popular than Trudeau and Macron. If Trump is able to maintain a favorable media landscape. Turning Trump's 2024 coalition into reliable GOP voters, and expanding to other disillusioned voters, will be beneficial.

Dems: Reinvent yourself as a populist party. Dems are still seen as establishment swamp creatues to a way greater extent that Rs are. They need a rebrand to appeal to low info voters. Relying solely on their high-propensity coalition is a bad idea, because what if the GOP gets their act together? Changing media strategies. Also moving away from legacy media because that has no outreach to low-propensity voters.

[Mr.Bakari-Sellers]

A Govt shutdown in March will doom any chance Rs have in winning the Midterms and in March it's threatening

[Reactionary Libertarian]

GOP: Take advantage in the media ecosystem that have worked to the party's benefit in 2024. It's kept presidents like Milei and Meloni way more popular than Trudeau and Macron. If Trump is able to maintain a favorable media landscape. Turning Trump's 2024 coalition into reliable GOP voters, and expanding to other disillusioned voters, will be beneficial.

Dems: Reinvent yourself as a populist party. Dems are still seen as establishment swamp creatues to a way greater extent that Rs are. They need a rebrand to appeal to low info voters. Relying solely on their high-propensity coalition is a bad idea, because what if the GOP gets their act together? Changing media strategies. Also moving away from legacy media because that has no outreach to low-propensity voters.

Rs other than Trump are also seen as establishment swamp creatures, or worse.

[Samof94]

The GOP has an obvious weakness, given Low-info voters who only care about Trump are not going to turn out for a midterm.

[Compuzled_One]

Democrats: Stop the GOP as much as possible, except the occasional somewhat small bill the red seaters can back. Then, assuming they want to prioritize the midterms and nothing else, cast a wide, "Contract with America" esque net and nationalize the contest, while letting maverick candidates in red states/seats attack it. Finally, attack the GOP as do nothings to completely kill base turnout. With any luck, this should push the GOP below 200 House seats and take back the Senate.

Republicans: Get as much done as possible policy wise to make as many low propensity voters as possible happy you're at least doing something (and maybe get products flowing again by ending the Ukraine war). Then, localize the contests as much as possible, but have most candidates occasionally tout how they helped/will help Trump and attack the Dems as obstructionist boring do nothings. Finally, exploit the 250th anniversary and World Cup to get that nationalist boost and deploy Trump to help in seats that backed him.