You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 5 hours ago • loading... • Updated 3 hours ago
Republicans return to tough-on-crime message ahead of difficult midterm elections
Republicans are tying Democrats to soft-on-crime policies as 48% of adults approve of Trump on border security, an AP-NORC poll found.
Republicans are prioritizing crime and border security in midterm campaigns to reenergize their base and appeal to moderate voters concerned about affordability and economic issues.
President Donald Trump amplified this message on Monday night in Nebraska, claiming "We had a border with people pouring in, crime like nobody's ever seen." An AP-NORC poll found 48% of U.S. adults approved of his border security performance.
In congressional races, Republican Michael Bouchard and Rep. Gabe Evans tout law enforcement backgrounds against Democratic opponents, frequently attacking rivals as "soft on crime" or warning they could "defund the police."
National Democrats contend these attacks are undercut by the administration's enforcement actions, while House Speaker Mike Johnson recently noted America has "the lowest violent crime rate in 126 years."
Gubernatorial races in Texas and Georgia employ similar tactics, yet some Republicans question whether crime messaging resonates given recent safety improvements and voter focus on other issues.