WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican campaigns in the midterm elections are emphasizing public disorder, illegal immigration, and violent crime as central themes. Ads from GOP candidates frequently warn of Democratic efforts to defund police departments.

Despite recent polling indicating that economic concerns—particularly inflation and the cost of living—have become top priorities for voters, Republicans are maintaining their focus on crime and border issues. Some voters have expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s approach to economic challenges and foreign policy, including the war with Iran. Party strategists believe that highlighting crime and security will energize conservative voters and appeal to moderates worried about public safety.

Law enforcement unions are regular fixtures at Republican campaign events, and speeches often include references to law and order. Even as Republican candidates cite historically low levels of violent crime, they continue to frame the issue as a crisis. Former President Donald Trump addressed border security and crime during a rally in Nebraska on Monday night.

"We have the most secure border we have had in the past half century," Trump said. "We had a border with people pouring in, crime like nobody’s ever seen."

Gubernatorial candidates in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin have accused their Democratic opponents of being soft on crime or supportive of reducing police funding. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott criticized Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa for opposing legislation that would prevent judges from granting bail to undocumented immigrants charged with violent offenses. Hinojosa, a state representative and former civil rights lawyer, has pushed back, arguing that Abbott’s policies infringe on civil liberties.

In Virginia’s first congressional district, Rep. Rob Wittman has attacked Democratic challenger Shannon Taylor over her record, labeling her lenient on crime. Taylor, a former county prosecutor, responded with an ad featuring endorsements from 13 local sheriffs. In Michigan’s 10th district, Republican Michael Bouchard has accused his opponent, Christina Hines, of backing socialist, woke, and soft-on-crime policies. Bouchard, a Bronze Star recipient and son of a long-serving sheriff, faces Hines, a former prosecutor who says she will prioritize public safety and fight corruption in Washington.

Colorado’s eighth district sees Rep. Gabe Evans highlighting his background as a police officer in contrast to Democratic candidate Manny Rutinel. Rutinel has aired ads with support from local law enforcement and released a public safety plan calling for increased police funding and expanded drug prevention initiatives. In Wisconsin’s third district, Rep. Derrick Van Orden has labeled Democratic nominee Rebecca Cooke a communist who supports defunding the police. Cooke has pledged to fully fund police departments if elected to Congress.

In North Carolina, Republican ads have claimed that Democratic nominee Roy Cooper was lenient toward convicted criminals during his two terms as governor. The ads have drawn criticism from Black political leaders, who describe them as racially charged and evocative of past campaigns that used coded language. At a rally supporting Cooper’s Republican opponent, Michael Whatley, Trump referenced the 1988 “Willie Horton” ad and displayed a jumbotron showing mugshots of men of color.

Democratic leaders at the national level argue that the Republican focus on violent crime is undermined by the Trump administration’s own immigration enforcement record. They also point to Trump’s legal history, noting he is the only U.S. president convicted of a felony, stemming from payments made to a porn star to conceal an affair.

Why It Matters

The Republican emphasis on crime and border security continues a messaging strategy that began during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, which tied immigration to public safety. This approach is supported by figures like Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, who served as state attorney general from 2017 to 2021 and has long advocated for stronger immigration enforcement and law-and-order policies. Schmitt said: "We’ve got to talk about it. I think that in many ways, we are the victim of our own success because it’s off the headlines a little bit more." Schmitt said: "Having a completely secure border now, no one even talks about it. But that’s a huge accomplishment from where we were at before."

What's New

New reporting provides historical context for the current campaign themes. Trump’s 2016 campaign prominently featured border security, linking it to crime and immigration control—a strategy that remains central to Republican messaging. Updated polling data offers insight into shifting public opinion.

A September AP-NORC poll found that 48% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of border security, a decline from 55% the previous year. The 2026 AP-NORC poll confirmed that approval had dropped from 55% in 2025 to 48%, suggesting waning public confidence in Trump’s border policies even as they remain politically prominent.

Key Republican figures continue to align with this strategy. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri senator and former state attorney general, has consistently promoted stricter immigration enforcement and law-and-order policies, reinforcing the party’s midterm messaging. Schmitt held the attorney general position from 2017 to 2021, where he prioritized criminal justice reforms and border security. Coverage of these developments has appeared in outlets such as the Missouri Republican, a St. Louis-based newspaper.