If Trump is in the news a lot, will it hurt us in the mid-terms?

[bluewater]

I was thinking about this lately. When Trump was not on the ballot in 2018, Republican turnout was down and our Democratic candidates did very well, especially in congressional races.

But in 2020 Trump was on the ballot and in the news constantly and we saw the Republicans outperforming expectations in the senate and house contests, leaving us with a razor thin margin in both.

Honestly, if Stacy Abrams hadn't worked so hard in Georgia increasing voter turnout, we would have a Republican Senate right now. I still thank god every morning for Stacy Abrams basically performing a miracle and getting two Democratic senators elected against all odds.

So, would it be better for our chances in the 2022 midterms if Trump is out of the news? Or will even negative coverage of him facing legal and criminal charges actually help the Republicans?

I am not sure...

[lagomorph777]

1. Heavy Trump coverage hurt the Reptilians in 2020.

I think coverage of his criminal trials will hurt them more in 2022.

Part of the reason Georgians turned out in January 2021 (in addition to Stacy, of course) was fear of Trump; he was pushing the Big Lie so hard; a Reptilian Senate would have posed an even bigger threat of his coup being successful. Voters could see that.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Trump motivates Democratic voters

Not enough has been made out of Biden getting 81 million votes, that was a stunning and historic number. Biden got people out to vote for him, but many came out to vote against Trump. Keeping Trump in the news reminds people of what could happen if they don't vote.

And for Republicans, they saw what happens for them when trump isn't on the ballot in 2018 and in Georgia in 2021. They have to think of a way to thread the needle too. I believe Trump feeding his fans that he's going to be reinstated soon is the worst case scenario for the GOP, when that doesn't happen, those people are going to give up on the political process.

[bluewater]

3. "The 2020 Election Was A Good One For Republicans Not Named Trump"

That's the thing, the Republicans seemed motivated too, just not for Trump personally.

Republicans outperformed the polls up and down the ballot in the 2020 election, to the surprise even of many Republican political operatives and survey researchers.

To be clear, Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Trump; Democrats will still control the House and still have a chance of picking up the Senate.

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/11/933435840/the-2020-election-was-a-good-one-for-republicans-not-named-trump

It seemed Trump's presence brought out tons of Republicans that enabled them to win house seats they might not have otherwise.

Again, I am not sure if Trump being in the news, even in a negative light, is a good thing for us Democrats.

[GoodRaisin]

4. Abrams' work was important in Georgia for sure. She also had an assist.

The Georgia voters wanted the stimulus money and knew that McConnell would not have given it to them. New stimulus money will not be on the ballot again in 2022. Will Georgia voters return to their old ways in 2022?

As for Trump's effect, he was in the news in 2018 even though not on the ballot per se. So his being in the news didn't matter then, and health care was the big issue. I think his appeal is declining and will continue to decline as we get closer to the mid terms so I'm going to say he will not much of a factor. In fact, the longer he keeps attacking Republicans at his magat gatherings, the better for Democrats.

[brush]

5. I'm not worried. IMO much of the trump news will be negative...his legal problems...

the televised House select committee on Jan. 6 and it's final report can be milked until just before the election. And some form of infrastructure bill will have passed and help to spur our expanding economy even more than it is now.

[Chainfire]

6. I don't think that it will have a negative effect.

Every time he opens his mouth is further evidence what a idiot he is and how corrupt the party is for not calling him out on it.

I think that Trump is a liability to the Republican party. If you disagree, please tell me which people who voted against him will be impressed by his new campaign? His hard core supporters will always be there for him. If Trump dies they will deny it and continue to support him. It is our good fortune that they are not a majority of the people who are likely to vote.

I am fine with him continuing to demonstrate his insanity to the people.

[abqtommy]

7. I don't think Former Fascist Guy will have much of an impact. What concerns me is all the

anti-voting laws that the reTHUG Fascist Insurrectionist Cultists are coming up with. They know that's
the only way they can appear to win.