Republicans return to tough-on-crime message before difficult midterms | AP News

Republicans are making crime, public disorder and immigration a centerpiece of their 2026 midterm messaging, with ads and attacks casting Democrats as weak on policing in governor and House races. Democrats are countering with candidates who have law enforcement backgrounds and their own public safety plans. The article notes the strategy's effectiveness is uncertain, with some Republicans skeptical and crime rates at record lows, while Democrats accuse the Trump administration itself of corruption.