As midterm congressional candidates enter the final stretch before voters head to the polls, Democrats have changed strategy, reportedly forcing Republicans into a different defensive posture.
According to the Washington Sun, Democratic campaign groups are increasingly turning to the Jeffrey Epstein files, using the issue to pressure Republicans -- even in states Donald Trump won comfortably.
The Sun found more than 150 Epstein-focused ads have aired nationwide this cycle. They first ran mainly in “toss up” districts and states but are increasingly appearing where Trump won by wide margins, the outlet reported.
In Kansas, which Trump won by more than 16 points, one ad hits Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) for his September 2025 vote to block release of the Epstein files, the Sun reported. The Democratic National Committee also plans "a flood" of Epstein-related ads in red states, aimed at Trump’s base on Fox News and right-wing YouTube channels, according to the Sun, which cited Axios.
Democratic strategist Dane Strother called the messaging “a layup.” “People feel deceived,” Strother told the Sun. “They fully expected these files to be released, and even the hardcore [Republicans] recognize they haven’t all been released. … We’re not talking about taxes, we’re not talking about privatizing schools, we’re talking about protecting children.”
Strother said Democrats may need only a small share of Republican voters to tip either chamber. “We need the 8% of [MAGA] voters to perhaps vote, in this case, Democratic, and this is an issue that penetrates red,” he said.
He also argued the ads put Republicans on defense. “Republicans are answering the attack,” Strother said. “When they have to stop and answer an attack, that means they’re not attacking, and Democrats are winning that debate. That’s exactly the debate that Democrats want to have.”
The Sun pointed to polling on the issue. A 2025 Washington Post poll found 82% of self-identified MAGA Republicans supported releasing all Epstein-related files, and a June Reuters/Ipsos poll found 21% of Republicans said the administration helped deliver justice in Epstein cases.
