Democrats are increasingly criticizing their own party and both parties in 2026 campaign ads. Axios identified 47 negative-message ads by Democrats and independents running as de facto Democratic nominees between Aug. 24 and Sept. 22, compared with 19 in 2024 and 19 in 2022.
The analysis covered more than 350 federal and statewide ads from Aug. 24 to Sept. 22 in election years since 2018. Democrats' positive appeals to work across party lines fell to 18 ads this year from 45 in 2024.
Candidates told Axios that voters are frustrated with both parties. Montana candidate Sam Forstag said people tell him basic necessities are becoming harder to afford; Minnesota candidate Jake Johnson said the state's fraud scandal erodes trust in its Democratic-led government. Some Democrats still make bipartisan appeals: Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman says he helped Republicans and Democrats change a law on Social Security benefits for public pensioners.
