Republicans Are Dreading the Midterm Elections – The Washington Post

Ahead of the U.S. congressional midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, 2026, the Republican Party has faced a significant decline in voter turnout among its “core” electorate. One in five of its supporters will either not vote or support the Democrats.

This is evidenced by the results of extensive surveys and focus group analyses conducted by AFP Action, led by Nathan Nascimento. 

The research shows that approximately one in five reliable conservative voters who regularly voted in previous elections are now considering staying home or even supporting Democratic Party candidates.

The main factors contributing to voter disillusionment are the economic situation, particularly high inflation and rising prices for basic goods. The most vulnerable group for Republicans turned out to be men under the age of 40, who express dissatisfaction that key campaign promises remain unfulfilled. At the same time, a Washington Post and Ipsos poll shows a 10-percent lead for the Democratic Party among voters who are highly likely to vote. Experts note that this is not so much due to an explosive surge in the Democrats’ popularity, but rather to a significant drop in engagement and disillusionment among traditional Republican supporters, which could lead to a shift in the balance of power in Congress during the upcoming re-election of 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 senators.