New Delhi: The 2026 American midterm elections are set to take place next year in the backdrop of widespread public dissatisfaction with both the Republicans and Democrats. A recent Pew Research Center survey indicates that large portions of the electorate view the coming contest not as a choice between compelling alternatives, but as a selection between two perceived extremes.
The polarised landscape of American politics is stark in the numbers. Even as a majority (61 per cent) view the Republican party as “too extreme”, the Democratic Party doesn’t fare any better at 57 per cent. Trust in the ethical conduct of government is also low with only 39 per cent holding the view that the GOP governs ethically and honestly. The Democrats performed only marginally better at 42 per cent.
The Pew survey highlights the extent to which an average American voter has been dissuaded by a vitiated political environment in the states.
“Majorities are also frustrated with both parties, and about half say each makes them angry,” the survey report reads.
Midterm elections are general elections held near the midpoint of a US president’s four-year term.
While the presidency is not up for election, midterms are significant because they determine the composition of the legislative branch in Washington. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for a contest.
Midterms also include elections for many state governors, state legislatures, and numerous local offices, allowing voters to reshape the political landscape of the United States. It is also seen as a performance appraisal of the President.
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Internal party dynamics
The survey highlights differing levels of frustration as well as hope among the American voters.
Sixty-nine per cent of Republicans, who currently hold both the White House and Congress, report higher levels of hope regarding their own party. In contrast, the Democratic base displays a significant level of internal frustration, with 67 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents reporting discontent with the party, while 30 per cent feel angry at their party.
The source of this Democratic frustration is attributed to the party’s failure to “not push back hard enough against the Trump administration.”
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Policy advantages and voter gaps
In terms of policy, the Republican Party maintains definitive leads on issues central to its base. The GOP holds a 17-point advantage on crime policy and a 9-point edge on immigration.
However, the Republican lead on economic policy has contracted significantly. The 12-point advantage held by the GOP just two years prior has shrunk to a narrow three-point margin (38 per cent Republican agreement versus 35 per cent Democratic agreement). Democrats retain strong policy advantages on health care, environment/climate, and abortion.
Additionally, a quarter of all Americans explicitly state that neither major party represents their interests effectively.
This political void is especially pronounced in the area of foreign policy, where the public opinion is split. Forty six per cent agree with neither party’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and 36 per cent feel the same about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The findings collectively signal a broad failure by both major parties to secure the consistent confidence of the American public.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)