A new poll was released by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Tuesday that revealed the GOP is in a “strong position to defend and grow the House majority” in the midterms next year. The was first unveiled at the House Republican Conference meeting and compares the current condition of the political landscape headed into the 2026 midterm, with the atmosphere that existed at the time of the 2018 midterms, which happened during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The poll was conducted April 13-18.
“Unlike in 2017, voters today are turning away from Democrats’ failed leadership and are rallying behind Republican solutions on the issues that matter most,” the NRCC’s memo on the poll says. “Unlike 2017, this poll demonstrates that House Republicans are not just on offense and starting the cycle on a strong footing to grow our majority; Republicans are leading the charge and setting the terms of the fight.”
At this time, Democrats are a measly point ahead of Republicans on the generic ballot. Back in April 2017, the Democratic Party was crushing the GOP with a six-point lead. Things are different now. In the 13 Democratic-held districts that Trump won in the 2024 election, the Republican Party is now leading by two points on the generic ballot.
“With a unified message, a powerful fundraising edge, and a strong political foundation already in place, House Republicans are poised to retain and grow our majority in 2026,” the memo says, according to The Daily Caller.
The poll also found that 72% of voters viewed the Democratic Party unfavorably. The NRCC wrote that this response means voters “overwhelmingly reject [Democrats’] extreme and out of touch agenda.”
NBC poll reveals the Democrat Party’s death spiral:
“Feelings toward the Democrat Party are at an historic low. 55% view the party negatively, and there's a divide among Democrats” pic.twitter.com/sRpADjt7D3
— NRCC (@NRCC) March 16, 2025
When asked who “cares about people like me,” voters ranked both parties equally, 47% to 47%, the poll found. This marks a 13-point improvement for Republicans compared to 2017. In addition, Republicans lead by eight points on voter connection in the 13 Democratic-held districts Trump won.
“If the first 100 days have proved anything, it’s that House Republicans are fighting for the American people while Democrats are fighting amongst themselves. The map is shifting. The momentum is real,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella went on to say in a statement. “And House Republicans are poised to grow our majority in 2026.”
Unsurprisingly, Trump showed a massive advantage on the issue of immigration and border security 56 percent to 43 percent. Along with that, a total of 53 percent of voters indicated how the government blows through our tax dollars is something that needs to be investigated. A total of 55 percent said they currently find their finances to be “excellent” or “good” under the Trump administration.
Outside of polling, swing district Republicans’ Q1 fundraising has nearly doubled over vulnerable House Democrats’ as the map swings towards Republicans, according to the memo.
“The battle for the majority will be hard-fought across individual battleground districts, but House Republicans are well-prepared, well-resourced, and on a clear path to not only retain the majority but grow it in 2026 as we continue delivering on the America First agenda,” the memo adds.
“The nationwide survey was conducted using 1,000 likely voters through live telephone interviews and online voter file panels. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.1%,” the report concluded.
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