Bill and Hillary Clinton are re-entering the midterm campaign arena, bringing two of the Democratic Party's most recognizable figures into the final stretch of the 2026 election cycle. The former president is set to make his first public campaign appearance of the cycle on Oct. 20 in Hollywood, Florida, stumping for Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, has launched a six-week podcast series focused on the midterms and has been making her own campaign stops, including a Saturday rally in Omaha, Nebraska.
The moves come as Democrats grapple with competing visions for their future, with progressive candidates challenging establishment-backed incumbents in several states. Bill Clinton's appearance on behalf of Jolly, a former Republican congressman now running as a Democrat, underscores the party's effort to compete in a state that has trended Republican in recent years. Jolly faces Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Jolly's platform centers on affordability, including lowering property insurance costs through a state-backed catastrophe fund, expanding Medicaid, increasing public school funding, and protecting abortion rights.
Hillary Clinton's podcast, titled «High Stakes,» debuted Oct. 14 and will air weekly through mid-November. The first episode examined rising costs for gas, groceries, and healthcare, Elon Musk's political spending, and how Democrats can make affordability a winning message, while also looking at key Senate races in Michigan and Maine. Clinton also traveled to Omaha for a «Pumpkins, Pies, and Politics» fundraiser supporting Democratic candidates Lynne Walz and Denise Powell. During that event, she addressed voter frustration by pointing to a series of national crises over the past 25 years, including the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, her 2016 election loss, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Clintons' increased visibility has prompted questions about how much influence they still wield as the party's progressive wing gains ground. Democratic strategist Kevin Walling praised Bill Clinton's communication skills, particularly his ability to connect with working-class voters on economic issues, but cautioned that Democrats are not seeking a Clinton restoration. «I don't believe that Democrats are looking for a Clinton restoration — they're looking for a path back to winning,» Walling said. He added that if the former president can help Democrats compete in a challenging state like Florida, and if Hillary Clinton's podcast can contribute to a substantive national conversation, that would be a positive for the party.
Other strategists offered a more skeptical view. Mally Smith noted that while the Clintons remain relevant to some voters, their reach is limited in a fragmented media environment. «They will mostly be useful in speaking to the Democratic base and those who are highly engaged in politics,» Smith said. «It is a hard media environment to break through and even current elected officials, let alone former office holders, will struggle to get people's attention.»
The Clintons' return to the trail comes as Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have scored primary victories against incumbent or establishment-backed Democrats in Colorado, New York, and Michigan. That dynamic has forced the party to balance drawing on the wisdom of experienced figures like the Clintons while elevating a new generation of leaders. Walling described the challenge as «drawing on the wisdom and experience of the party's past without overshadowing the next generation of leaders who will define its future.»
Bill Clinton's Oct. 20 appearance will take place at an interfaith event in Hollywood, Florida. The Clintons' offices and Jolly's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. With Election Day approaching, the Clintons' involvement signals that the party's old guard still has a role to play, even as the base searches for a new direction.