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During the 2018 midterm elections in the United States, political ads varied across different regions, reflecting the specific issues and concerns of voters in each area. Here is a general overview of some of the key topics highlighted in political ads by U.S. region:
Midwest: Ads in the Midwest often focused on economic issues such as job creation, trade policies, and the impact of tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing industries. Healthcare was also a prominent issue, with ads discussing access to affordable healthcare and protections for pre-existing conditions.
Northeast: In the Northeast, ads frequently addressed gun control and school safety following the Parkland school shooting earlier in the year. Climate change and environmental policies were also important topics, particularly in states like New York and Massachusetts.
South: Political ads in the South often emphasized immigration, border security, and support for law enforcement. Some ads also highlighted the Republican-led tax reform bill and its impact on middle-class families.
West: In the West, ads focused on a range of issues including healthcare, immigration, and the environment. There was also significant attention given to the Trump administration’s policies, with ads either supporting or criticizing the president’s agenda.
Bloomberg News examined over 3 million election ads from the 2018 congressional and gubernatorial races to determine the most frequently discussed issues in 210 local television markets, as defined by the Nielsen Company. Across the United States, 16 different topics emerged as the most commonly mentioned in midterm TV ads.
According to Bloomberg, more than 1,200,000 TV ads have brought up health care, and nearly 75 percent of those ads have been coming from Democrat candidates.
Topics of political ads: Alabama – Jobs, Taxes Alaska – Public safety Arizona – Healthcare, Immigration Arkansas – Taxes, Jobs, Education, Healthcare, Public safety California – Healthcare, Anti-Trump, Immigration, Education, Guns, Public safety Colorado – Healthcare Connecticut – Taxes, Healthcare Delaware – Transportation, Healthcare Florida – Healthcare Georgia – Education, Immigration, Taxes, Healthcare Hawaii – Education Idaho – Taxes, Healthcare, Budget Illinois – Taxes, Healthcare, Jobs Indiana – Jobs, Healthcare, Taxes Iowa – Healthcare, Taxes Kansas – Taxes, Healthcare, Budget Kentucky – Healthcare, Pro-Trump, Jobs, Taxes Louisiana – Multiple issues Maine – Healthcare Maryland – Anti-Trump, Education, Transportation Massachusetts – Social issues Michigan – Healthcare, Jobs Minnesota – Healthcare, Taxes Mississippi – Pro-Trump, Jobs Missouri – Healthcare, Taxes Montana – Healthcare Nebraska – Agriculture, Healthcare, Taxes Nevada – Healthcare, Budget New Hampshire – Social issues, Helth care, Taxes, Jobs New Jersey – Healthcare New Mexico – Helth care, Public safety New York – Healthcare, Taxes, Jobs North Carolina – Healthcare, Budget, Public safety, Taxes, North Dakota – Healthcare Ohio – Healthcare, Social issues Oklahoma – Education, Budget, Public safety, Jobs, Public safety Oregon – Education, Healthcare Pennsylvania – Taxe, Healthcare Rhode Island – Job South Carolina – Taxes, Pro-Trump, Budget, Immigration South Dakota – Taxes Tennessee – Pro-Trump Texas – Public safety, Helth care, Immigration, Education Utah – Budget Vermont – Taxes, Social issues, Healthcare Virginia – Healthcare, Social issues, Jobs, Anti-Trump Washington Healthcare West Virginia – Healthcare, Social issues Wisconsin – Healthcare Wyoming – Budget, Healthcare, Jobs, Taxes
Are you interested in American politics? If so, you may find these books useful.
