WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� A Dallas congresswoman opened her Senate campaign by telling voters that she 鈥渉as gone toe to toe with Donald Trump.鈥� Her Democratic primary opponent insisted that Americans are tired of 鈥減olitics as a blood sport.鈥�
The divergent approach highlights how U.S. Rep. and state Rep. are navigating a race where Democrats hope to break a three-decade losing streak in Texas. It also reflects a broader divide within the party, with some candidates continuing to focus on Trump while others barely mention his name.
Figuring out the best approach will be critical for Democrats who are grasping for a path back to power in the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and are already maneuvering for the 2028 presidential race.
Republicans, by contrast, have been crystal clear.
Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, said in a recent podcast interview that the Republican president will campaign aggressively next year and the party will 鈥減ut him on the ballot.鈥�
鈥淗e is the greatest vote energizer in the history of politics,鈥� said Neil Newhouse, a veteran Republican pollster. 鈥淏ut the challenge is that he does it as much for Democrats as he does for Republicans.鈥�
Crockett takes on Trump
In her campaign launch video, Crockett was silent as audio of Trump鈥檚 insults played, including multiple times that he has called her a 鈥渧ery low-IQ person.鈥� At the end of the video, she breaks out into a smile.
On Monday, she addressed the president more directly.
鈥淭rump, I know you鈥檙e watching, so let me tell you directly,鈥� Crockett said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not entitled to a damn thing in Texas. You better get to work because I鈥檓 coming for you.鈥�
Trump responded the next day, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that her candidacy is 鈥渁 gift to Republicans鈥� and 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even believe she鈥檚 a politician, actually.鈥�
For nearly a decade, Democrats have used their criticism of Trump to draw attention and fuel fundraising. Governors who are considered potential 2028 presidential contenders, including California鈥檚 and Illinois鈥� JB Pritzker, saw as they positioned themselves as staunch Trump opponents.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., recently participated in a video telling service members that they should not follow 鈥渋llegal orders.鈥� Trump by accusing him of 鈥渟editious behavior鈥� that’s 鈥減unishable by death.鈥�
Kelly started a national media tour and sent out a flurry of fundraising emails, both for himself and other Democrats. He said Trump has bullied everyone in his career, 鈥渂ut not now, because I won鈥檛 let it happen.鈥�
When it comes to running for office, 鈥淭rump is the red meat that drives donors,鈥� said John Anzalone, a longtime Democratic pollster.
鈥淭here are clearly some candidates that are playing towards the donor world that don鈥檛 actually make a great argument for winning races. But it鈥檚 great for clicks and making money. And money is the first primary that you need to win.鈥�
Talarico charts a different course
Talarico has built a following with a less combative style. The former schoolteacher who is working toward a master’s degree in divinity at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary gained attention by posting viral social media content challenging Republicans鈥� claims to Christian values. He has focused less on Trump or other politicians.
鈥淭he biggest divide in our country is not left versus right. It鈥檚 top versus bottom,鈥� Talarico said in the video launching his campaign.
There are echoes of other Democratic successes this year, such as when won in New Jersey and Virginia by focusing on affordability concerns.
Voters in those states were much likelier to say they were voting to oppose Trump than to support him, according to the AP Voter Poll. For example, 71% of voters for Democrat Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey said their decision in the governor’s race was motivated at least partially by opposition to Trump.
But Sherrill recently said that it is not enough for Democrats to rely solely on anti-Trump fervor.
鈥淭rump makes a difference. He鈥檚 a forcing mechanism to coalesce the party,鈥� Sherrill said. 鈥淏ut to really turn out the vote in a really strong manner, you have got to run a really sharp campaign.鈥�
When Democrats talk about Trump, they have to connect his actions to voters鈥� everyday lives, she said.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just say, oh, I鈥檓 so upset that Trump demolished the East Wing of the White House,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have to say, look, there鈥檚 a tariff regime that is being run that is enriching the president to the tune of $3 billion, and you鈥檙e paying more for everything from your cup of coffee in the morning to the groceries that you鈥檙e buying to cook your family dinner at night.鈥�
It is an approach that could have more staying power in the coming years.
鈥淚n the not-too-distant future, Trump will not be on the ballot and that will be a challenge for both parties,鈥� said Austin Cook, a senior aide for Democrat Elissa Slotkin鈥檚 successful U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan last year. 鈥淗e is a starting gun for Democratic enthusiasm. But soon we won’t have him as a foil.鈥�
Republicans need Trump to turn out voters
Republicans have little choice but to enlist Trump鈥檚 help, considering his enduring support among voters who are less likely to turn out during the midterms.
鈥淭hey need to energize Republican voters and the only real way to energize Republican voters and get them out to vote is by enlisting Trump in the campaign,鈥� said Newhouse, who is advising some of the party’s U.S. Senate candidates.
He warned that Trump鈥檚 popularity does not necessarily transfer to candidates he supports, 鈥渂ut there isn’t an alternative.鈥�
鈥淲hat they are trying to do here is basically wrap themselves up in him, hope that his approval and the economic numbers improve and get their voters out to the polls to match the Democrats鈥� intensity,鈥� Newhouse said.
The White House has said that Trump will be on the road more in the coming months. He hosted his first rally in a while in Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening, where he blamed Democrats for inflation.
鈥淭hey gave you high prices,鈥� he said, adding that 鈥渨e鈥檙e bringing those prices down rapidly.鈥�
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Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix and AP Polling Editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that state Rep. James Talarico is working toward a master鈥檚 degree in divinity but is not now a pastor.
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