Controversy
Status:Open
Will Donald Trump be a Primary Voting Factor in the 2026 U.S. Midterms?
UNLIKELYLIKELY
Claims
Brookings"As we have seen, the president’s party almost always loses ground in the midterm election following his victory... [but] if Republicans are to have a serious chance of retaining control of the House, President Trump will have to improve his job approval significantly."Aug 28, 2025
Daniel Di Martino"If legal immigrants begin to be deported without having committed any crime [by Trump admin], get ready for Republicans to lose the [2026] midterms by a landslide."Dec 10, 2025
Susie Wiles“All these people that he [Trump] helps — he doesn’t help everybody — but for those he does, he’s a difference maker, and he’s certainly a turnout machine.”Dec 09, 2025
Lindsey Graham"It [2026 Midterms]'s going to be dominated by what party is making you safe and prosperous. It's not going to be dominated by subsidies [Trump's presidential actions]. It's going to be dominated by the big stuff."Nov 04, 2025
William A. Galston"Republicans have reason to worry that the president’s political decline will affect their performance in next year [2026]’s midterm elections."Dec 04, 2025
Good Authority"Trump’s current strategy of federal workforce reductions and tariffs may satisfy certain ideological goals, but his policies are creating the exact economic conditions most likely to trigger voter backlash [against GOP in the 2026 midterms]."Mar 18, 2025
Bill Press"Though not officially on the ballot, Donald Trump will have a major impact in 2026."Dec 10, 2025
Ron DeSantis“A chunk of [GOP voters] who put them in power in 2024 are Trump-specific voters; they will vote GOP down ballot when Trump is running but won’t turn out to vote for a typical congressman in a midterm when Trump isn’t running.”Dec 03, 2025
Amy Walter"Whether congressional GOPers can turn things around for the ‘26 midterms is more dependent on Trump than ever."Dec 10, 2025
Michael Wolff“All of the kinds of things [Trump's] doing now will result in him losing—certainly losing the House of Representatives."May 15, 2025
Karoline Leavitt“The President will help his Republican friends on Capitol Hill get reelected [in 2026 Midterms], and work to pick up new seats across the country.”Dec 10, 2025
LSE"The success or failure of the Grand Old Party (GOP) next year [2026 US Midterms] will be decided on the strength or weakness of President Trump’s coattails."Sep 01, 2025
Rachel Reisner“The push needs to be to push that energy. In some states [Trump's] endorsement will be very beneficial, and it’s up to candidates to try and replicate his messaging to spur turnout.”May 02, 2025
Mike Cernovich"Without Trump on ballot, it will be a low turnout (for [the GOP]) midterm."Dec 10, 2025
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0