Republicans Scramble for 2026 Midterm Message as Trump Unpopularity and High Gas Prices Bite
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Republicans Scramble for 2026 Midterm Message as Trump Unpopularity and High Gas Prices Bite
6 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 28
Republicans are struggling to settle on a 2026 midterm message as President Donald Trump’s approval keeps falling and voters sour on his handling of the economy.
High gas prices have sharpened that problem, while Trump no longer holds majority support even on immigration, long one of his stronger issues.
Several Senate Republicans are also criticizing key Trump priorities, including a $1.8 billion legal payout fund and a $1 billion allocation tied to a White House ballroom.
Polls now show voters prefer Democrats over Republicans for control of Congress next year, raising the stakes for the party’s search for a campaign theme.
How could legal challenges to presidential spending reshape the balance of power between government branches?
What new strategies are being developed to address the rising cost of living for American families?