In a strategic pivot ahead of next week’s midterms, a group of Democratic congressional candidates running in red-leaning, rural districts are putting their gun credentials front and center. Rather than shying away from firearms, these campaigns are actively featuring hunting, shooting, and gun ownership in their outreach efforts to win over conservative-leaning voters.
In Wisconsin’s 1st District, Democratic candidate Mitchell Berman has featured ads portraying him as an avid hunter and gun owner. One campaign advertisement shows him fishing while wearing a holstered sidearm, while another depicts him skeet shooting at clay pigeons labeled “Data Centers.” Berman explained his need to carry a firearm by pointing out local wildlife hazards, noting encounters with bears, wolves, and a mountain lion captured on his trail camera. His race against Republican Rep. Bryan Steil, whose seat was previously carried by Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2024, has tightened into a competitive contest according to recent polling.
A similar strategy is playing out in Texas’ 15th District, where Tejano singer-turned-candidate Bobby Pulido is campaigning openly on his passion for firearms and hunting. Pulido, who named his oldest son Remington and displays hunting trophies in his home, noted that firearms are a way of life in rural regions, where political fundraisers in the Rio Grande Valley often take place at skeet shoots rather than golf courses. Pulido is challenging Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a district that was redrawn to favor Republicans, though economic strains and shifts in Latino voting patterns have put the seat in play.
The broader political landscape heading into the midterms also encompasses major foreign policy and domestic developments. President Donald Trump has campaigned on promises of lower oil prices following the elections, alongside implicit signals regarding potential military actions concerning Iran. Meanwhile, political developments continue to unfold across various states, including competitive Senate dynamics in Tarrant County, a high-profile gubernatorial endorsement in Alaska involving Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, and voter turnout efforts in Wisconsin led by Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Crowley.
Additional pre-midterm developments involve shifting voter registration trends, with over half of newly eligible young voters registering without major party affiliations. The Justice Department has maintained an active presence regarding voting and political cases ahead of election day, while election officials and experts have worked to reassure voters regarding the security of electronic voting equipment against online claims of vote manipulation. On the monetary policy front, the Federal Reserve announced its decision to leave interest rates unchanged in its final policy meeting prior to the midterms.
