"Republican Party Faces Mounting Challenges Heading into 2026 Midterms"

This is your RNC News podcast.

The Republican Party faces significant internal challenges as it moves into the final weeks of November 2025. The party experienced a major setback in early November elections when Democrats swept virtually every state and local race, winning governorships in Virginia and New Jersey along with the mayoralty of New York. This electoral performance has exposed deep fractures within Republican ranks and raised questions about President Trump's political influence heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

A major factor in these Republican losses traces back to the October through November government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The shutdown cut off millions of Americans from food assistance and resulted in the firing of thousands of federal employees. Polls show nearly half the public blames Republicans for the shutdown, creating significant political damage heading into 2026. The situation has become more complicated because Republicans must face a critical vote in December on Affordable Care Act subsidies, which they agreed to as part of the government reopening deal. If they vote against extending the subsidies, they'll face angry voters who could see an average 26 percent increase in their health care premiums in 2026.

The party is also dealing with public perception issues around the economy. Three-quarters of voters in recent polling view the economy negatively, with large numbers reporting increased costs for groceries, utilities, healthcare and housing. Despite promises from Trump and Republicans to lower costs on day one, the party is facing criticism that this has become a broken promise. Democrats are already positioning themselves to capitalize on this in 2026, needing to flip just three House seats to take back control from Republicans.

Internal party tensions have become increasingly visible. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the hard-right Republican congresswoman from Georgia and longtime Trump ally, unexpectedly announced her resignation from Congress on November 21st, signaling the beginning of what many see as a breakdown in party unity. Conservative columnists have begun warning about extremism within the party, and various factions appear to be jockeying for position as they prepare for both the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

On specific party initiatives, Trump's congressional redistricting push is facing complications. After a federal court panel struck down Republicans' new congressional map in Texas, the entire exercise holds the potential to actually net Democrats more winnable seats instead of the five additional conservative-leaning seats Trump had sought. The situation extends to other states as well, with Missouri Republicans facing lawsuits and a possible referendum on their redrawn congressional map, and potential battles looming in Virginia and Colorado.

The RNC is also engaged in various legal actions. The committee has sued Michigan's Secretary of State over guidance for overseas voters, claiming that allowing spouses and dependents of Michigan voters living overseas to vote absentee violates the Michigan Constitution's residency requirements. The lawsuit echoes a similar complaint the Michigan Republican Party filed in October ahead of the 2024 general election.

Recent polling data shows the Republican Party's favorability standing at 40.2 percent with an unfavorability rating of 53 percent, while Trump's favorability sits at 43.2 percent with an unfavorability rating of 53.1 percent.

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