The midterm election is traditionally hard on the party in charge and this year is expected to be no different. But with disillusionment in the White House increasing, it seems that it will be harder than usual.
President Donald Trump knows that the fate of Republican control of the Congress is in the hands of a few key states, like Arizona, and has been stressing the importance of voting in the midterms.
"What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot. Just come and vote. It's so important," he asked of Republicans during a campaign rally in South Carolina in August 2026.
The president has even suggested that he'd give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans could maintain control of the House and Senate in the midterm
elections.
Getting Trump's endorsement was thought of as the golden ticket, especially for Arizona Republicans, but as Election Day creeps closer, primary allies are seemingly distancing themselves from the president.
This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray are joined by political pollster Spencer Kimball. He is the founding director of the nonpartisan Emerson College Polling Center.
Kimball sheds light on how Trump's approval rating will impact Republicans running in the midterm election.
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Reach producer Amanda Luberto at amanda.luberto@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X @amandaluberto.
Catch up on previous Gaggle episodes here
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump's approval is sinking. Will this impact the GOP in the midterms?
