GOP Strategists Abandon House Defense, Betting on Polling Errors to Survive 2026 Midterms
Facing a likely loss of the House majority in November, Republican strategists are increasingly relying on the theory that current polling data is inaccurate. While Democrats hold an eight-point lead on the generic congressional ballot, GOP insiders point to historical polling misses in 2016 and 2024 as a potential lifeline. This hope coexists with internal admissions that the party’s national environment is deteriorating, compounded by economic concerns and a widening rift between some candidates and President Trump’s tariff policies.