Midterm Challenges for Republicans

Kellyanne Conway, a former senior adviser to President Trump, expressed concerns on Tuesday regarding the Republican Party’s outlook for the midterm elections. She noted on “The Ingraham Angle” that historically, the party in power tends to face backlash during midterms. In an effort to mitigate this, the White House intends to highlight policy achievements to voters. Conway emphasized that Republicans should avoid any retirements.

“I’m worried that this year there are a lot more Republicans who would prefer to retire rather than maintain their slim majority,” Conway told host Laura Ingraham. “The Democrats don’t have much to offer except for ‘Trump, Trump, Trump.’

Significant changes are anticipated in Congress during the last two years of President Trump’s term. A notably high number of Congress members have already announced they won’t be running for re-election in 2026, and more resignations are expected. As of late January 2026, 28 Republicans and 21 Democrats in the House of Representatives have confirmed they will not seek re-election this year, according to Ballotpedia.

Conway pointed out that the path for Republicans in the midterms will be more challenging, particularly since President Trump will not be on the ballot. “It’s tough, Laura…President Trump mentioned that midterm elections are always difficult, but we’re making strides to make voters aware of our successes. I criticized the 2022 midterms as we didn’t have Trump on the ballot,” she said. “Many candidates were only vaguely referencing issues like socialism and inflation without really connecting with voters.”

She noted that voters are looking for clear accountability from their elected officials. “We the people want to see what you’ve accomplished for us. It’s vital for the president to actively campaign, as his presence at the polls could really make a difference,” Conway stated. “Not having him on the ballot makes it tougher. He has a unique ability to connect with people.”