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While it might sound like a cliché to label this fall’s elections as pivotal, it remains an undeniable truth. The significant achievements we’ve witnessed, such as strengthening the military, preventing tax hikes, addressing border and immigration issues, and advancing foreign policy, could all be at risk if the Republicans lose control of the House or possibly the Senate. Such a shift could trigger a resurgence of impeachment efforts and relentless attempts to dismantle the progress made by President Trump and the GOP since the beginning of 2025.
Is the Trump administration flawless? Certainly not. Are any Republican leaders or members of Congress without fault? Again, no. However, striving for perfection shouldn’t hinder progress. Republicans need to capitalize on their current position to challenge the historical trend where the president’s party typically loses seats during midterm elections. Particularly in the House, even a single lost seat could have significant consequences.
In light of this, a crucial meeting took place on Tuesday night among administration officials to strategize on how to beat the odds in the upcoming midterms. The discussions yielded some intriguing insights.
Here are some key takeaways from the meeting:
The economy consistently emerges as the central issue in elections. Voters prioritize their economic interests above all else, and while effective messaging is important, it can only go so far if people aren’t experiencing financial prosperity and security in their daily lives.
Last night on Capitol Hill, the senior Trump political command briefed its core team on the midterms.
Some of what occurred was previously reported on by @SophiaCai99 of @politico.
Here is a more detailed account, according to one of the attendees at the meeting at the…
— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) February 18, 2026
It’s a long post; here are some highlights.
The pollster and strategist Tony Fabrizio presented with about 25 slides on the data on what voters care about — the demographics, the issues, what messages resonate and what do not.
The economy will be THE issue in the election, he said. Messages that break through: Banning stock trading for Congress, transparency on health insurance data (including on pricing and claims reimbursement), lowering prescription drug costs, the Trump tax cuts.
The economy is always THE issue in the election. It’s THE issue in every election. People vote their economic interests first and foremost, and messaging can only take one so far if people aren’t feeling a little extra weight in their britches from a well-padded wallet.
Then political czar James Blair spoke and presented the historical data of how rare it is for a president’s party to not lose a lot of seats in a midterm.
Tennessee 7 special was going to be lost before a huge push for Election Day, from which they have taken lessons about messaging and grassroots.
Trying to argue about wages being up will not help; voters have to feel it, he said.
Again, key message: People vote on results, not promises. An economy the size of ours doesn’t turn on a dime, and the results of the Trump administration’s economic policies are only now beginning to be felt.
One more:
He (Blair) acknowledged that Donald Trump will do what he wants to do, say what he wants to say, not be data driven. Everyone else has to stay on message and be driven by the data. In effect, two separate but related campaigns.
Yes, as always, President Trump will say what he thinks; he’s not big on filtering his comments. The GOP’s efforts in the midterms will have to work with that, not against it.
There’s a lot of good data. People’s retirement accounts are doing well. Jobs are coming back. Inflation is in check. Those are the messages that have to be pounded home, at every chance, in every outlet we can manage.