Democrats Think They Have Their 2026 ‘Boogeyman’ – and It’s Not Donald Trump – RedState

If you live in one of the states or localities that held elections in 2025—or if you've been paying attention in the last 10 years—you already know that Democrats still don't have a campaign message that doesn't revolve around Donald Trump. He seems to consume their every thought, and of course he is mentioned in much of their campaign rhetoric; In a party bereft of ideas and overtaken by socialists and other far-left radicals, simply speaking out against Trump is the best way to appeal to the American people.

In Virginia this year, GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl-Sears was portrayed as a Trump supporter, which is amusing on its face since she called for the GOP to abandon Trump after he announced his 2022 presidential campaign and Trump apparently did not endorse her candidacy. Earl-Sears was not a MAGA at all, which may have cost her dearly, but Democrats continued to push messages that tied her to Trump anyway.

They just can't leave him.

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Democrats, seeking to build on their gains in the 2025 elections, as reported are looking for another bug they can direct all their Trump-fueled ire at in the midterm elections. Make no mistake, Trump isn't going to disappear from the left's message anytime soon—Democrats will continue to oppose him for as long as they can. But even they realize he won't always be around, so they've decided, at least according to one report, to make Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. their new supervillain.

Republicans consider Robert Kennedy Jr. a valuable candidate for the midterm elections.

Democrats are trying to make him a liability.https://t.co/5qbg4sjfRt

— POLITICIAN (@politico) November 16, 2025

Let's state the obvious right away: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s greatest sin was that he dared to leave the Democratic Party. Worse, he has teamed up with Donald Trump, which Democrats consider the greatest betrayal. It's simple not done. So Kennedy would live out his days as an enemy of the party his family had turned into a 20th-century powerhouse.

However, it is his work as HHS secretary that Democrats will try to use as a cudgel against Kennedy in hopes of regaining a majority in either the House or Senate.

They are betting that voters will associate Kennedy with disease outbreaks and rising insurance costs rather than his more popular criticism of drug companies and focus on nutrition and health. As both parties seek to build coalitions ahead of the midterm elections, public opinion of Kennedy – and how candidates position themselves in opposition to him – could matter in key races that will determine control of Congress.

There is some danger in a tough fight with Kennedy, who has support across party lines for his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. MAHA momsIn particular, they have become a growing political force as they use social media to promote things like removing artificial colors and vegetable oils from food. The moms have found a staunch ally in Kennedy, and some Democrats may think twice about meeting them halfway to score political points.

We do know that at least one Democratic congressional candidate will make RFK Jr. a major part of his campaign, and that's Kennedy cousin Jack Schlossberg, who recently announced his candidacy to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12).

JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg: “President Trump is so obsessed with Kennedy and the Kennedy name that he put one in a cage and put him in his office—a rabid dog in his office. Put a collar on my cousin RFK Jr. and he's out there barking, spreading lies and misinformation.” pic.twitter.com/z0MdbSJ0lc

— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) November 15, 2025

Should be a fun election cycle.