Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
The battle for control of Congress is entering its final stretch, and Republicans are looking to President Donald Trump to help energize voters ahead of one of the most consequential midterm elections in years.
For House Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans, the objective is straightforward: defend their congressional majority and give President Trump a Republican-controlled Congress for the remainder of his second term.
But midterm elections can be difficult for the president’s party.
Republicans have advantages, including Trump’s ability to command enormous media attention, a powerful fundraising operation and a loyal political base. Trump’s political organization has accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars that could potentially be deployed to influence competitive congressional races.
At the same time, Republicans face serious political headwinds.
Economic concerns remain prominent among voters, particularly the cost of living. Recent polling has also shown weakness in Trump’s overall approval numbers, while higher gasoline prices and the continuing Iran conflict have created additional uncertainty for GOP candidates.
Democrats hope those concerns will motivate voters who want to put a check on Trump’s presidency. Republicans, meanwhile, are betting that their voters will recognize that losing control of Congress could dramatically change Washington during Trump’s final two years in office.
That means the midterms could come down to turnout.
Trump doesn’t need to appear on the ballot for his political influence to matter. If his supporters show up in large numbers, Republican candidates in close House and Senate races could benefit. If Democratic and independent voters are more motivated, control of Congress could move in the opposite direction.
Speaker Johnson and other Republican leaders may be confident, but ultimately voters—not politicians, pundits or polls—will decide what happens in November.