How Republicans can shatter 2026’s midterm narrative |
There’s been a rash of doomsaying about the 2026 midterms after the GOP’s pitiful performance in November’s off-year elections and President Donald Trump’s sagging approval ratings — but a new Emerson College poll brings the party a ray of hope.
Turns out the generic Republican is the most powerful brand in American politics.
The survey pitted four political archetypes — moderate Republican, moderate Democrat, MAGA Republican and progressive Democrat — against one another in hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups.
The MAGA Republican label performed worst, falling short against both moderate Democrat (47%-38%) and progressive Democrat (43%-42%) brands.
But the moderate Republican designation performed best of all, easily dispatching either a moderate (44%-39%) or a progressive (48%-36%) Democratic opponent.
At first glance, these results seem to have little bearing on the looming congressional elections.
After all, the man in the White House is the very model of a modern MAGA Republican — and the midterms are traditionally a referendum on its occupant.
But dig deeper, and the poll suggests that with the right game plan, the GOP can turn next year’s anticipated Blue Wave into a ripple.
And not by abandoning its banner of bold colors for one of........