President Donald Trump, speaking at his midterm Republican convention Sept. 10 in Dallas, made one point abundantly clear: “Please pretend that I am running.”
Trump wants to make the 2026 election a referendum on him. And I, for one, believe that we should take the president at his word.
That makes the 2026 election very simple: if you like President Donald Trump, vote for the Republicans. If you do not like President Donald Trump, vote for the Democrats.
You can't argue with results
There is a saying in politics that staffs reflect their leaders. If you believe the cabinet members Trump has chosen to help lead our country are the best and the brightest ‒ Pete Hegseth and Todd Blanche, Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi ‒ vote for Republican candidates in 2026. If you don’t approve
of Trump’s cabinet choices, vote for the Democrats.
Trump has said the issue of affordability is “fake” and that Democrats “caused it.” If you agree that affordability is a fake issue and the Democrats are to blame, vote for the Republicans. If you think affordability is real and that Democrats did not cause it, vote for the Democrats.
Trump has said Canada, America’s neighbor and our second-largest trading partner, is ripping us off, and therefore he has raised tariffs 50% on a host of items from up north ‒ lumber, auto parts, beer and hockey sticks, among others. If you approve of higher tariffs on Canada and higher prices on these goods, vote for the Rs. If you do not approve of tariffs being raised on Canadian goods and products, vote for the Ds.
Trump says he had to pre-emptively start a war with Iran seven months ago to keep that country from obtaining nuclear weapons and that higher gas prices are “a price we have to pay.” If you approve of the war with Iran, vote for Republican candidates in 2026. If you do not approve of the war that has cost the lives of 18 American service members and more than 800 wounded in the conflict, and that has raised gas prices to more than $4 per gallon, vote for the Democrats.
Trump has said the White House is in need of a larger ballroom. If you approve of the demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House so that it can be replaced by a ballroom close to twice the size of the existing White House (90,000 square feet versus 55,000 square feet), then vote for the Republicans. If you preferred the historic White House, the way it was before, then vote for the Democrats.
Trump has said he was unfairly targeted and prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden. If you approve of Trump's decision to use the Justice Department to prosecute his own perceived enemies because of past court cases and investigations, vote for the Republicans. If you do not approve of the Department of Justice being used for political payback, vote for the Democrats.
It's just that simple
Trump has referred to those who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as “patriots” and “hostages.” If you approve of President Donald Trump’s full, complete and unconditional pardon for all 1,600 individuals charged or convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 assault, vote for the Republicans. If you do not approve of pardoning those involved in the Jan. 6 attack, which resulted in five deaths and injuries to more than 140 law enforcement officers, you should vote for the Democrats.
If you approve of Trump’s mass deportation campaign, which has resulted in 985,000 immigrants being deported, vote for Republicans. If you do not support the president’s deportation immigration policies, which have led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, vote for the Democrats.
If you agree with Trump's statement that “the press is the enemy of the people,” vote for Republicans. If you think the press is fulfilling its First Amendment obligation to serve as a watchdog, vote for the Democrats.
Say what you want about the president, Trump is right about one thing ‒ the 2026 election is all about him. This really is a simple election.
Contributing columnist Rusty Hills is a past chair of the Michigan Republican Party, and is a lecturer at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump says 2026 is about him. Michigan voters should believe him. | Opinion
