{"id":2655314,"date":"2026-09-06T07:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T11:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/midterm-countdown-republicans-find-their-boogeymen\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T07:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T11:08:35","slug":"midterm-countdown-republicans-find-their-boogeymen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/midterm-countdown-republicans-find-their-boogeymen\/","title":{"rendered":"Midterm Countdown: Republicans find their boogeymen"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmidterm-countdown-republicans-find-their-boogeymen%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2655314&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article is part of the Washington Examiner&#8217;s weekly &#8220;Midterm Countdown&#8221; series analyzing the 2026 election cycle. It discusses preparations by the GOP for their Midterm Convention in Dallas, highlighting the event\u2019s post-Labor Day campaign push, despite some lawmakers skipping it for district campaigning.Democrats rely on voter dissatisfaction over high gas prices and President Trump\u2019s declining approval to aim for flipping the House and Senate, though they face challenges from far-left activists and ongoing redistricting issues in states like Missouri and North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have historically used figures like Nancy Pelosi as campaign villains, but now target more extreme figures such as Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, whose controversial past fuels GOP messaging. Missouri\u2019s Supreme Court temporarily blocked a new congressional map, favoring Democrats, which could impact November\u2019s elections given election districts are based on the old map.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is rallying Cabinet officials across the country to energize voters and support GOP candidates, with some officials campaigning in key states, while others face criticism on issues like energy and agriculture. Democrats running in conservative states are avoiding associating with Vice President Kamala Harris, though some Democrats still welcome her support.<\/p>\n<p>A key campaign issue emerging is data centers; Trump expressed strong support for their development, but some Republicans worry about voter backlash against them. Prediction markets currently indicate Democrats have an 85-89% chance of retaking the House and a roughly 52-53% chance of winning the Senate, suggesting a leaning toward Democratic gains in the upcoming cycle.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This story is part of a series of monthly snapshots from the<\/em> Washington Examiner<em>, titled<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4547563\/midterm-countdown-democrats-lead-gop-path-through\/\"><strong><em>Midterm Countdown<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em>, gauging the state of the 2026 election cycle.\u00a0Scroll down to the bottom of the story for the latest prediction market odds of who is going to win.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gop\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1577\">GOP<\/a> is in final preparations for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-convention\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2363\">Republican Midterm Convention<\/a> in Dallas to bolster support among its base. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4713682\/tea-party-patriots-action-founder-poll-watching-in-person-training-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Activist group accelerates poll-watching training ahead of midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4715188\/rnc-full-keynote-speaker-midterm-convention\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>RNC reveals full keynote speaker list for midterm elections convention<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4715181\/troy-jackson-susan-collins-cousin-relationship-comment\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Troy Jackson fires back at Susan Collins over relationship comment<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trumpalooza-themed event kicks off the post-Labor Day sprint to November. But many congressional lawmakers are skipping the convention to campaign in their districts, and many grassroots supporters claim the event is too pricey to justify attending. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are counting on voter disaffection over high gas prices and President Donald Trump\u2019s sinking poll numbers to help them flip the House and possibly the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But they\u2019ve also been plagued by far-left activists who are distracting their affordability message.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, ongoing redistricting battles in Missouri and a legal tussle over Trump\u2019s mail-in voting executive order are still in flux as voters in North Carolina begin receiving absentee ballots. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-republicans-find-their-boogeymen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Republicans find their boogeymen<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, Republicans had a recurring star in their TV ads and campaign messaging: Nancy Pelosi. The former Democratic speaker was the longtime villain, a mainstay in ads as Republicans linked Democratic candidates to her to paint them as radical and out of touch. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was so toxic, in some areas, that many battleground candidates specifically campaigned on the promise they would not vote for Pelosi as speaker. In 2019, as Pelosi\u2019s unpopularity roared, 15 Democrats refused to vote for her on the House floor. Many of them had just been elected in battleground districts \u2014 such as Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill, and Elissa Slotkin, all of whom would later seek higher office. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is not unpopular enough \u2014 or well known enough \u2014 to be the next boogeyman. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have appeared in some ads over the last few cycles.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But neither are as inflammatory as Hasan Piker, the socialist Twitch streamer who has become a staple in Republican midterm messaging over the past month. Piker, who has been criticized for his vehemently anti-Israel posture, is an outspoken supporter of Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan\u2019s Senate race. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Piker\u2019s past controversial comments, including saying that \u201cAmerica deserved 9\/11,\u201d have given Republicans ammunition with which to damage Democrats. He\u2019s also become a central part of their contrast message. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vice President JD Vance took aim at el Sayed and Piker during a recent campaign swing through Michigan. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy message to Abdul el Sayed is: You can pal around with terrorist sympathizers, and you can say that America deserved 9\/11, or you could empathize, not with the children who were targeted at Temple Israel, but with the attacker,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are all despicable things, but they\u2019re all things that the people of Michigan will judge you on based on your record.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Republican strategist also said they anticipate making regional villains so that their messages resonate. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In New York, for example, socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani figures to take a lead role in negative advertising. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Republican Campaign Committee said Democrats \u201cown every radical position\u201d taken by the polarizing figures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVulnerable House Democrats have tied themselves to the most unhinged socialists in their party, from Zohran Mamdani to Hasan Piker,\u201d NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in a statement.\u00a0\u201cNow they own every radical position, every insane statement, and every socialist policy that comes with them, and we\u2019re going to hang that record around their necks like an anvil all the way to Election Day.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-missouri-madness-notches-democrats-a-surprise-win\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Missouri madness notches Democrats a surprise win <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats scored an unexpected win the first week of September after Missouri\u2019s state Supreme Court unanimously blocked the GOP\u2019s new congressional map. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling requires Missouri to use its previous map for the November elections, effectively restoring Rep. Emanuel Cleaver\u2019s (D-MO) Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the center of the case was an effort by opponents of the new map to put it before voters through Missouri\u2019s referendum process. Under the state constitution, voters can petition to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature. Opponents gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on the new congressional map, which meant the map could not take effect unless and until voters approved it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the referendum, arguing that congressional redistricting legislation was not subject to the state\u2019s referendum process. The Missouri Supreme Court \u2014 dominated by Republican appointees \u2014 ruled the secretary of state erred in making the decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, the court put the new map on hold until voters can approve it in November. Even if it passes, the new map will not take effect until 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans already hold six out of the eight districts in Missouri. The new map was set to give the party a seventh district. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling creates an unusual situation for November. Missouri held its August congressional primaries using the new districts, but voters will cast their general election ballots under the old lines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missouri Republicans said they will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, though the case centers heavily on the Missouri Supreme Court\u2019s interpretation of the state constitution.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-trump-sends-cabinet-officials-across-the-country\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trump sends Cabinet officials across the country<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Trump<\/a> is leaning on members of his Cabinet to help carry his message beyond Washington as Republicans enter the final stretch before the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\">midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The travel is part of a broader effort to energize voters and defend Republicans\u2019 narrow congressional majorities amid concerns about the economy and the Iran war. Sending administration officials into key states also gives GOP candidates prominent surrogates who can promote specific pieces of Trump\u2019s agenda to local voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">War Secretary Pete Hegseth has become one of the administration\u2019s most active political messengers. He campaigned for Kentucky Republican Ed Gallrein, who defeated Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and appeared at the Iowa State Fair for a veteran-focused fundraiser with Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and GOP Senate candidate Ashley Hinson. Nunn and Miller-Meeks are fighting to keep their House seats, while Hinson is running in a competitive race for an open Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was in Michigan on Monday alongside Vance and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson for a MAGA Inc. event. Also in attendance were Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers and other GOP candidates for Congress and statewide office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The travel has not always allowed Cabinet officials to stick to the administration\u2019s preferred message. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited New Hampshire last week to promote the administration\u2019s push for additional natural gas pipelines but faced questions about gasoline prices that have climbed to roughly $4 a gallon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins ran into another politically sensitive issue during a swing through Iowa. While seeking to shore up support among farmers, Rollins was forced to address Trump\u2019s move to allow foreign beef imports, a decision that has drawn criticism from cattle ranchers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Tampa with Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) to roll out a new school nutrition initiative. Kennedy remains a valuable messenger to the \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d voters who helped expand Trump\u2019s coalition, even as some activists have grown frustrated with administration decisions, including its approach to glyphosate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, is headed to North Carolina to speak before the Charlotte Economics Club. Bessent has become a go-to administration voice on economic policy at a time when Republicans are looking to reassure voters about the economy while also confronting criticism surrounding the costs of the Iran war.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One notable administration figure has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4704789\/rubio-stays-off-midterm-campaign-trail\/\">been largely absent<\/a> from the political circuit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, widely viewed as a possible 2028 presidential contender, has mostly stayed away from campaign events even as many of his Cabinet colleagues have taken increasingly visible roles in the midterm push.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The barnstorming also gives Republicans an opportunity to put other faces on Trump\u2019s agenda at a moment when the president\u2019s own standing with voters could weigh on the party in November. Some administration officials may be better positioned to reach constituencies where Trump has lost ground, allowing Republicans to campaign on his policies without making every midterm contest a referendum on the president himself.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-red-state-democrats-are-good-on-kamala-harris\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red state Democrats are good on Kamala Harris<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats running key red state races have a clear message for former Vice President Kamala Harris: stay away.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A growing number of Democrats have preemptively rejected an endorsement from Harris this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Campaign spokespersons for Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Iowa, and Iowa Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek told the Washington Examiner they don\u2019t want an endorsement from Harris or for her to appear on the campaign trail with them. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout Trump\u2019s three presidential campaigns, Iowa has tracked Republican after it voted for former President Barack Obama in 2008. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Democrats see an opening to flip the governor\u2019s mansion and retiring Sen. Joni Ernst\u2019s (R-IA) seat blue as the GOP struggles to counter their affordability message. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cook Political Report ranked the Iowa gubernatorial race and the Senate race as toss-ups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola also rejected a Harris fundraising email sent on her behalf. \u201cMary isn\u2019t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 \u2014 her focus is and always will be Alaska,\u201d a Peltola spokesperson told a local news outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Harris dismissed the rejections as part of the election race in an interview with MS Now. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need to win,\u201d Harris said. \u201cI have run locally, I\u2019ve run for statewide office and obviously nationally, and these candidates know what they need to do to win, and I would expect nothing less.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But not all Democrats are shunning Harris. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert is running for California\u2019s 48th Congressional District. She said that Harris will come to her district. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is expected to host Harris for a canvass lunch in Las Vegas as he seeks the governor\u2019s mansion. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) also hosted the former vice president for a private \u201cWomen for Ossoff\u201d call. And Harris recently endorsed Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) in his Senate race in New Hampshire. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Harris remains a 2028 Democratic front-runner according to most polls, meaning Democrats won\u2019t be able to continue to shun her if she launches a third presidential bid. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-next-big-campaign-issue\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The next big campaign issue<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">August saw data centers emerge \u2014 and then explode \u2014 as a campaign issue. Anti-data center sentiment nearly propelled socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong to victory in the Wisconsin gubernatorial Democratic primary, but a stunning consolidation effort around David Crowley, who is pro-data center, helped the moderate Democrat over the finish line in early August. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President Donald Trump has championed data center construction but has sent candidates mixed messages on how to talk about them. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told reporters before a campaign stop in South Carolina last month that he was fine if Republicans disagreed with him on data centers. The president has said he supports building them and they bring \u201ctremendous income\u201d for communities. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018If a Republican is against the data center, that\u2019s OK with me,\u201d said Trump, offering a softer stance if Republicans disagree with him.   <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He then took an aggressive position on social media earlier this week, writing that the \u201conly reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign,\u201d he wrote.\u00a0\u201cThe good news is that there are plenty of other places that want them. If we kill the Golden Goose, you will only have yourselves to blame.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issue has become a concern for Republicans. The National Republican Senatorial Committee in August released a memo arguing that voters are sour on data centers and that they risk becoming a liability for Republicans in competitive races, particularly Sen. Jon Husted\u2019s (R-OH) reelection campaign. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMore than any other thing in this race, data centers are the anchor hanging around Husted\u2019s neck. If he loses and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice \u2014 and they will not go near the next one,\u201d the memo wrote of Husted\u2019s race. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The memo said the \u201ccompanies that need these projects built\u201d must fix this problem, effectively asking the corporations to invest in changing voter sentiment. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, Republicans have had a mixed response, with candidates adopting platforms best reflecting the sentiment of their communities, but the issue is almost certain to dominate between now and the November election. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-the-prediction-markets-say\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the prediction markets say<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prediction markets are increasingly viewed as a real-time gauge of political sentiment. Unlike traditional polling, they aggregate real-money bets on political outcomes, often capturing shifts in sentiment quicker than surveys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4712727\/melania-trump-not-attending-midterm-convention\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4712727\/melania-trump-not-attending-midterm-convention\/\"><strong>MELANIA TRUMP HAS NO PLANS TO ATTEND RNC\u2019S MIDTERM CONVENTION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this stage in the 2026 cycle, Kalshi gives Democrats an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/controlh\/house-winner\/controlh-2026\">85% chance<\/a> of retaking the House, while Republicans have a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/controls\/senate-winner\/controls-2026\">53% chance<\/a> of keeping control of the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Polymarket is slightly more bullish on Democrats, giving the party an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/which-party-will-win-the-house-in-2026\">89% chance<\/a> of retaking the House and a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/which-party-will-win-the-senate-in-2026\">52% chance<\/a> of winning the Senate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Midterm Snapshot: GOP Preps for Dallas Convention<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4403,"featured_media":2655315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098037048658_54f219-e1777387578261.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[85193,35835,34250,5894,3756],"class_list":["post-2655314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-boogeymen","tag-campaign-strategy","tag-midterm-elections","tag-politics","tag-republicans"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098037048658_54f219-e1777387578261.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4403"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2655314"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2655318,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655314\/revisions\/2655318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2655315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2655314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2655314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2655314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}