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In anticipation of the 2026 midterm elections, a recent survey reveals that the Republican Party has ceded some ground to the Democratic Party on various issues. However, voters are more inclined to believe that the GOP has a clear strategy for addressing the nation’s challenges.
The survey, published recently, shows that a larger number of voters perceive the Republicans (43%) to have a clear plan for the United States compared to the Democrats (33%), with majorities feeling that neither party has a solid plan (54% for GOP and 64% for Democrats). This sentiment is consistent with data from three years ago when the same question was posed.
Confidence in their party’s clear plan is higher among Republicans (79%) than Democrats (51%), which poses a challenge for the Democratic Party. While a significant proportion of independents believe that neither party has a clear plan, more trust the GOP (30%) compared to the Democrats (25%).
The survey also highlights a decline in the GOP’s handling of key issues compared to data from 2023, even in areas where they traditionally excel. The Republican Party is still seen as more capable in national security (by 14 points), immigration (+6R), and government spending (+5R), while the Democratic Party is favored in areas such as climate change (by 23 points), health care (+19D), social security (+17D), education (+15D), and energy policies (+6D).
Support for the GOP has decreased in various areas since 2023, including immigration, national security, government spending, foreign policy, and the economy. On the other hand, the Democrats have maintained support on their key issues, with a notable increase in approval for handling education.
Overall, perceptions of both major political parties are mixed. The Republican Party has a slightly better favorable rating (44%) compared to the Democratic Party (42%), but a majority view both parties negatively. Positive views of the Republican Party have been on the rise since 2019, while the Democratic Party has been experiencing a downward trend.
Conducted in July 2025, the survey included interviews with 1,000 registered voters. The results have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.
