Macho, macho men? Democrats talk masculinity on campaign trail after years of Trump’s bravado
Summary
In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, some key races feature candidates from both parties discussing masculinity and toughness. This focus on manliness follows President Donald Trump’s style of projecting strength and using insults during his campaigns, influencing how male candidates show confidence and respond to attacks.Key Facts
- The 2026 midterm elections cover many issues like the Iran war, tariffs, inflation, immigration, taxes, and health care.
- Some male candidates in battleground states emphasize masculinity to appeal to voters and counter conservative attacks.
- In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed called his Republican rival Mike Rogers “beta energy” during a debate about their football backgrounds.
- In Texas, Republican candidates have mocked Democrat James Talarico with nicknames referring to low testosterone, which Talarico dismissed.
- Experts say the election shows more male candidates highlighting masculinity, which is different from past elections that focused more on how women candidates presented themselves.
- President Donald Trump’s campaign style included using belittling nicknames and portraying himself as tough, affecting U.S. political culture.
- Past presidents, like Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, projected strength but did so in less aggressive ways than Trump.
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