Former House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday warned Republicans to switch up their messaging on the campaign trail, expressing concern that current political dynamics signal critical losses for his party in the midterm elections.
The former Republican California representative pointed to recent polling that paints a poor picture of GOP electability in November, indicating that Democrats maintain a 6-point lead among likely voters during a Fox News interview. To change the trajectory, he urged his party to hone a clear message, including on economic issues, as Democrats harp on affordability, which is voters’ top concern ahead of November.
“The midterms right now. I’m worried because the generic ballot’s over 6. That’s an advantage to the Democrats,” McCarthy said. “I’m worried that I’m not seeing the clear message from Republicans: What is the plan for why you should stay in the majority? What is your economic plan going forward? What are you touting as the successes that you’ve had already?”
McCarthy’s warning comes as some polling has painted a dim picture of the Republican Party’s performance in November. Democrats are winning on healthcare and most issues related to affordability, including housing, inflation and the cost of living, and jobs and the economy, according to a Financial Times-Focaldata survey released earlier this week. In the survey, 63% of respondents said they believe the economy is going in the wrong direction, including 37% of those who voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.
Democrats have seized on the political climate, with leaders such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) targeting the White House over affordability.
“House Democrats are fighting for an affordable America,” Jeffries told supporters during a recent stop in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. “House Democrats are fighting to lower the cost of groceries, gas, and housing.”
The RealClearPolitics average has Democrats up 6.7 points in the generic congressional ballot, which measures which party voters prefer to run Capitol Hill. In addition, Republicans are looking to defy history, as the party that holds the White House has lost congressional seats in all but two midterm elections dating back to 1938.
In previous comments to the Washington Examiner, veteran Democratic strategist James Carville asserted Democrats will take back both branches of Congress. Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both the House and the Senate.
“House 90% Dem,” Carville said of the likelihood of Democrats winning. “Senate 60% Dem.”
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But other data indicate a more optimistic outlook for Republicans, showing voters hold a lukewarm view of the Democratic Party. The party has a 54% unfavorable rating compared to 40% favorable, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.
Republicans also hope the number of safe congressional seats in their majority will be boosted due to redistricting, including 14 new seats that Trump would have carried by at least 10 points, according to an analysis by the National Republican Congressional Committee.