The real “electability” question is about Donald Trump
Welcome to The Midterms, Actually. Every week I’ll be writing about two things: one big idea or trend I see forming across the 2026 primaries, and one thing I’m hearing from a voice on the ground. Let’s get into it. One Big Idea: The electability conversation we should be having Here’s something you wouldn’t know from most of the […]
The biggest electability issue in the 2026 midterm elections is President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The administration has alienated its base through unpopular policies such as tariffs and the release of the Epstein files, as well as the escalating war. Moreover, Trump's support for scandal-plagued candidates like Ken Paxton in Texas and Max Miller in Ohio has further damaged the party's reputation.
Perhaps the most significant issue is that Trump has yet to acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election, which could potentially hurt the party in the upcoming elections. This issue has been a constant presence since the January 6 insurrection, with Trump's pardons for January 6 defendants and failed attempts at creating a government fund for payouts keeping the problem fresh.
Despite this, the focus of coverage has often been on the Democratic Party's changing nature, turning "electability" into a debate between moderates and progressives. However, this conversation is flattening the unpopularity of Trump's second-term MAGA agenda, and candidates need to be questioned about the administration's actual policies.
The upcoming midterm elections could see Democrats retaking the House or even the Senate, but Trump's impact on the election remains a major factor.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
