Political advertisements warn of Democratic plans to defund the police. Campaign events include law enforcement unions and strong language about law and order. Stump speeches highlight historically low levels of violent crime.
Republicans around the country are concentrating their midterm campaigns on public disorder, illegal immigration, and violent crime as voters become dissatisfied with their party’s handling of the cost of living and the conflict with Iran.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Issue | Crime and public safety |
| Election | 2026 U.S. midterm elections |
| Republican Focus | Crime, policing, and border security |
| Democratic Response | Police funding and public safety plans |
| Key Debate | Law enforcement and crime policy |
| Why It Matters | Crime remains a campaign issue for both parties |
Democrats have attempted to counter the assaults by recruiting candidates with law enforcement credentials and promoting their own anti-crime policies, but Republicans see it as a rare opportunity to go on the offensive in an otherwise difficult year.
“Did you know that America is now seeing the lowest violent crime rate in 126 years? “Because we value the rule of law,” House Speaker Mike Johnson recently told an audience at Louisiana State University. Crime rates have mainly declined during the 1990s, with a small uptick during the COVID outbreak.
Republicans Attack Democrats on Crime
President Donald Trump addressed the issue again Monday nite in Nebraska, warning about how the country was before he arrived to the White House.
“We had a border with people pouring in, crime like nobody’s ever seen,” he stated.
Republicans claim Democrats would ‘defund the cops’.
Republican candidates for governor in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin have criticized their Democratic opponents for being weak on crime or threatened to eliminate police budget. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for example, has criticized Democratic contender and state Rep.
Crime Fight Shapes Governor Races
Hinojosa has campaigned on her experience as a civil rights lawyer, criticizing Abbott’s crime policies for violating civil liberties.
Rick Jackson, a millionaire healthcare businessman running in Georgia, has regularly criticized Democratic opponent Keisha Lance Bottoms during her time as Atlanta mayor.
“I grew up in the type of neighborhood that Keisha Lance Bottoms abandoned,” Jackson stated during a summer campaign event. “I know who gets hurt when politicians defund the police.”
Bottoms underlined in an interview with Atlanta station 11Alive that her government provided salary rises to police and firemen and that she advocated for additional federal assistance.
Crime warnings pervade congressional races
It’s a similar story in the United States House campaigns.
In Virginia’s first congressional district, Rep. Rob Wittman has criticized his Democratic opponent, prosecutor Shannon Taylor, for her purported “soft on crime” record in government. In Michigan’s 10th district, Republican Michael Bouchard is campaigning on his experience as a Bronze Star Army captain and the son of a longstanding local sheriff. He has alleged that his Democratic opponent, former prosecutor Christina Hines, favors “woke, soft on crime, socialist policies.”
Rep. Gabe Evans, who represents Colorado’s eighth district, highlights his experience as a police officer in his campaign against Democratic candidate Manny Rutinel. Also in Wisconsin’s third district, Rep.
Crime Message Drives Election Strategy
Republicans believe that by reiterating warnings about crime and disorder, the party will reenergize their disillusioned base and reclaim wary moderate voters who have drifted away on issues like affordability.
Democratic competitors have replied in kind. Taylor ran an advertisement depicting 13 local sheriffs who sponsored her campaign. Rutinel ran commercials featuring local police and announced a safety strategy that included increased police budget and drug prevention initiatives. Hines stated that she will continue to emphasize public safety and fight corruption in Washington. Cooke has promised to completely finance police stations in Congress.
Republican Crime Message Faces Criticism
Not everyone in the party supports Republicans repeating the crime narrative.
“I don’t see that bubbling up as a major issue for the voters,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who opted not to run for reelection. Republicans have launched advertisements saying that Democratic challenger Roy Cooper went easy on prisoners during his two stints as governor, hoping to turn the contest to succeed Tillis into a crime referendum.
Black political leaders have condemned the commercials, calling them racist and reminiscent of previous Republican campaigns that utilized dog whistles to appeal to suburban white voters.
Democrats accuse Trump of corruption
National Democrats argue that the Trump administration’s tough immigration enforcement policies, which resulted in the deaths of two American demonstrators in January and the deadly shootings of several undocumented immigrants, undermine Republicans’ narrative on violent crime. They accuse Trump of corruption and have chastised Republicans for their apparent involvement in the president’s self-dealing.
“This is the biggest criminal organization that we’ve ever seen,” said Arizona Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego of the current White House.
He also stated that, “Democrats should be pushing back with the fact that, if not for the fact that he was president.”
Crime Takes Center Stage in 2026 Elections
Republicans are making crime and public safety a prominent part of their 2026 campaign strategy. Democrats are responding by emphasizing their own records and plans on policing and public safety.
The debate is likely to remain part of the broader campaign conversation as both parties compete for voters ahead of the midterm elections.
