What issues will guide the 2022 election? Check ads from GOP senators – Deseret News

If the Facebook ads that incumbent Republican senators are running are any guide, next years midterm elections are set to be a showdown about Big Tech, former President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as immigration.

Republicans up for reelection next year are already running digital ads to raise money and grow their mailing lists, and while there are unknown issues and political controversies that will yet shape the 2022 midterms, the topics incumbents chose to run on now act as a preview of the races to come. For now, its heavy on culture war issues, the border and fierce loyalty to Trump.

Heres a look at what issues Republicans are emphasizing based off ads from May and June, according to Facebooks ad library:

Lee whos facing primary challengers including former state Rep. Becky Edwards and former Gov. Gary Herberts deputy chief of staff and communications director Ally Isom has honed in on issues like the border, holding Big Tech companies accountable, and cancel culture. The Left continues to celebrate the cancel culture, reads one ad. We must fight back!

Hawley, an early leader in the Republican Big Tech backlash, has lately been tying his crusade directly to Trump. Trump is featured heavily in recent Hawley ads paid for the by National Republican Senatorial Committee, including some that literally advertised Trumps then-forthcoming social network. President Trump launching his own social media site, one ad reads. Would you join it?

Crapo has also run ads promoting Trumps social network, as well as ads asking supporters to help protect the borders by contributing to his campaign. DONATE TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, shouts one ad calling for donations.

Rubio aggressively criticized Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, but the former president as well as the former presidents son have shown up quite a bit in Rubios recent digital ads. Rubio has run ads touting his endorsement from Donald Trump Jr., and other ads hit Democratic challenger Rep. Val Demings for her role in Trumps first impeachment. Rubio also accused President Joe Biden of not standing up to China.

There is perhaps no Republican running today whose ads have their finger on the pulse of the Republican culture wars more than DeSantis. Hes run ads about critical race theory, which the Florida Board of Education banned from public school classrooms last month, asked his supporters their opinion about transgender athletes in sports, and proclaimed, Dont Fauci My Florida in an ad promoting his less restrictive handling of the pandemic.

Paul has run ads asking supporters to donate $17.76 for America, and hes also gone all in criticizing Fauci, pairing his asks for donations with calls to fire or investigate the nations top infectious disease expert.

Grassleys ads stand apart from most of his Republican colleagues. Theyre mostly direct-to-camera videos that arent focused on the culture wars, though some of the ads copy does touch on the socialist Left, Bidens Border Crisis and Democrats radical agenda. In some videos, Grassley is frank about raising money so hell have a good showing in his quarterly Federal Election Commission report, and one ad even features an ask from his wife Barbara.

Scotts ads warn that the left is doing their best to cancel EVERYTHING conservative about America, and some suggest Scott is especially targeted because he doesnt fit the woke Lefts narrative as a Black Republican. Scott also highlights his support from Trump.

Johnsons YouTube account was temporarily suspended last month after violating the sites policies on spreading misinformation about COVID-19, and the Wisconsin Republican is using the news to tie himself to Trumps social media ban. Big Tech has censored both President Trump and Ron Johnson for sharing their perspectives, one ad reads. Johnson has also run ads asking supporters what they think about the job Biden is doing.

Kennedys ads call for supporters to chip in to fight Democrats socialist agenda and protect gun rights. Hes also run ads criticizing Fauci. Faucis flip flopped like a banked catfish answering questions about COVID, one ad reads.

Correction: A previous version stated that Utah GOP senatorial candidate Ally Isom was former Gov. Gary Herberts chief of staff. She was Herberts deputy chief of staff and communications director.

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What issues will guide the 2022 election? Check ads from GOP senators - Deseret News