We’ve now had a chance to watch the first full post-2016 national campaign. And it’s been pretty … traditional.
The messages of the candidates, in advertising, media statements and speeches, turned out to be mostly normal. Democrats focused on health care; Republicans split between taxes, immigration and heath care. Like most first midterms for a new president, 2018 has also played out, in part, as a referendum on the President Trump, but Democrats focused less on the president than prior parties that were out of power.
Republicans ran a more divided campaign. They highlighted Trump and immigration in primaries and strong Republican areas. But they also voiced more moderate messages on health policy– mixed in with GOP warnings of Democratic liberalism — in swing areas.
Trump’s influence can certainly be seen in some racialized appeals and in Democratic enthusiasm, but the candidates’ behavior suggests they think conventional messages still move votes.