Republicans take an ominous turn in their midterm campaign

Republicans’ midterm messaging is growing sharper as the GOP confronts weak polling, with top figures targeting Democratic candidates using attacks on identity, appearance and background, according to the report. President Donald Trump mocked Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed, calling him a “jihadist,” while Vice President JD Vance made a joke implying candidate James Talarico is gay. Trump also alleged Talarico is a vegan and incompatible with Texas’s culture, and renewed racially derogatory claims about Haitian and African people “invading” key states. The piece notes federal officials searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in Minnesota and highlights Trump questioning her rights as a naturalized citizen. The article points to Trump’s low approval rating—33% in a CNN poll of polls—amid economic frustration.