OPINION:
As the 2026 midterm elections draw nearer, just as sure as the sun rises, mainstream media outlets, talking heads and so-called political experts are under growing pressure to concoct endless Trump-hating hot takes and push overtly biased wish-casting.
This means straining to read the tea leaves, obsessing over every public poll that comes down the pike and leaning into conventional wisdom and customary theories, even though our country is in uncharted territory.
The narrative, at the moment, is that the party out of power usually picks up congressional seats in the first midterm of a presidency. Although history supports this, voters have never faced a situation quite like our current one.
People were interested in these podcasts
Since the COVID-19 pandemic came to our shores six years ago, America has witnessed a woke Democratic Party gallop to far-left extremism. Whether it is open borders, across-the-board tax increases, climate change lies, defunding the police or Trump derangement syndrome, Democrats have embraced it all — and they have no plans to change direction anytime soon.
In fact, even after their humiliating losses in 2024, loony leftists are doubling down on recent failures with something even more dangerous: country-wrecking socialism.
It is out there, happening in real time and in plain view: The party out of power is off the rails and offering no alternative, solutions-based agenda with any hope of making life better.
Americans are coming to the conclusion that a divided government would not fix our problems. In fact, it would make the next two years a frustrating lesson in gridlock.
Thankfully, some of this concern is now being reflected in key U.S. Senate races across the country.
Michigan last elected a Republican to the Senate in 1994, when Spencer Abraham was elected. Fast-forward to today, and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is leading Republican Mike Rogers by only 3 percentage points, according to an average of polls, well within the statistical margin of error.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2002, when Norm Coleman was elected. Despite this streak, left-wing Democrat Peggy Flanagan is leading former NBC sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya by just 1.8 percentage points, according to polling averages.
The Granite State of New Hampshire has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, when Kelly Ayotte was elected. However, Democrat Chris Pappas is leading Republican nominee John Sununu by approximately 6 percentage points on average, with some polls showing the race tightening.
Why, in the midst of Republicans’ current political headwinds, are the polls so competitive in these blue-leaning states? The answer may be simpler than the prognosticators are willing to acknowledge. It really boils down to which choice is the best hope for future domestic or foreign policy success over the next two years.
For example, will electing Mr. El-Sayed to the Senate make America safer in terms of combating Islamic terrorism, countering antisemitism and ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon? Clearly, many voters in Michigan do not think so, and they would rather send Mr. Rogers to the Senate.
In Minnesota, will voting for Gov. Tim Walz’s loyal lieutenant governor, Ms. Flanagan, make it easier for Congress to pass legislation to continue the Trump administration’s fight against waste, fraud and abuse in entitlement programs? Here again, folks in the Land of 10,000 Lakes are realizing that electing another Democrat to the Senate instead of Ms. Tafoya will make commonsense welfare reform a much steeper mountain to climb.
The same goes for voters in New Hampshire. Will pulling the lever for Mr. Pappas make it more likely that Congress puts a reconciliation package containing tax relief and inflation-fighting spending cuts on President Trump’s desk? Here too, Granite State voters are weighing whether sending another Democrat to Washington serves their economic interest or simply prolongs legislative gridlock.
Over the past decade, our country has become a nation of activists and very savvy voters. These voters know full well the importance of their decisions at the ballot box this November, and that a knee-jerk vote for “change” will not achieve the desired outcome that millions are counting on. That is a free, secure, prosperous America.
• David N. Bossie is the president of Citizens United. He served as a senior adviser to the Trump 2024 and 2020 campaigns. He served as deputy campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President in 2016 and deputy executive director for the Trump transition team.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.