Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley downplayed concerns that President Donald Trump‘s legislative actions could dent his support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, suggesting he is still “dramatically” more popular than the Democratic Party.
Whatley said the Democratic Party is “rudderless” ahead of former President Joe Biden‘s first speech on Tuesday since leaving the White House. He said the party would continue struggling to attract voters if it remains focused on topics such as insecure borders and “inflationary spending.” When asked how Trump’s recent actions regarding the Department of Government Efficiency or his tariff battle could affect the Republican Party, Whatley said the former action is part of a “commonsense agenda” that most voters support.
“The American people don’t want to see fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government,” Whatley argued on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom. “They do not want to see open borders. They want to make sure that America’s going to be strong. So the president may have a slight tick down in this poll or that poll, and he may be a slight tick up in other polls, but the fact is he is dramatically more popular right now than the Democratic Party because of the agenda that he is pushing. The common sense agenda of rebuilding our economy, restoring the southern border, and keeping communities safe.”
Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Whatley acknowledged that the Democratic Party has “a ton of money” to outspend the Republican Party. However, he stressed that Republicans cannot think “for a second” that outspending the opposing party is key to victory. Rather, he said Republicans should focus on finance and other factors to advocate Trump, including volunteers, infrastructure, and election integrity.
Whatley also addressed how a Republican organization raised $13 million in the first three months of 2025, saying this reflects people’s desire to see Trump’s agenda advance beyond just two years. As such, he said the Republican Party’s mission should be ensuring it keeps control of Congress so Trump can cooperate with the House and Senate for his full term.
REPUBLICANS SHOULD ADDRESS WELFARE’S WORK DISINCENTIVES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Last week, Sabato’s Crystal Ball suggested that the Democratic Party could narrowly win a couple more seats, with 19 congressional seats considered toss-ups. Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, said both parties have some advantages. However, the biggest deciding factor will be what happens in the 19 months leading up to Election Day in 2026.
This year’s elections will see the governor’s mansion up for grabs in Virginia and New Jersey, both states that went to former Vice President Kamala Harris despite Republicans gaining some ground in the 2024 presidential election. Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), chairman of the Republican Governors Association, expressed enthusiasm for both elections following Trump’s victory against Harris.