Sep 24, 2026 · 33 min · 7 segments
The 2026 midterms are getting closer, and the latest polling gives us a look at where voters stand. This week on Poll Hub, we dig into our latest national poll, examining the congressional elections…
Jay DeDapperHostMary GriffithHostEmilyGuestCassidy ConnorsPanelistWell, newsflash, in case you missed it, it is election season, and we are here with our first round of battleground state polls for this year's midterm elections.
The Democrat Josh Turek has an eight-point edge, 50% to 42% for the Republican Ashley Hinson on the ballot.
Now, how does that compare with the generic congressional ballot question? Well, here again, among registered voters, the Democrat on the ballot has plus five over the Republican in Iowa, 50% to 45%.
And turning to Texas, Democrat James Tallarico receives the support of 50% of registered voters to 44% for the Republican Ken Paxton.
And again, here, this mirrors somewhat what we're seeing on the congressional generic ballot question.
What do you think accounts for the Democrats' advantage in these two battleground states?
Well, let me just start it by saying this is like a big deal, potentially, because the Democrats need to flip four seats to get a majority in the Senate.
They weren't given much chance at the starting gun, you know, when this whole campaign sort of began that seemed like too tall an order, too much headwind.
And so let's just say that the Democrats have three places where they are vulnerable.
We'll be taking a look at some of those later on in the campaign, Michigan, New Hampshire and Georgia.
So this issue here is how the Democrats do well and win a couple red states for Donald Trump won by double digits in order to gain control of the Senate.
So then we look at Iowa and Texas and, you know, those are two of the states that Donald Trump did, you know, very well in.
Well, newsflash, in case you missed it, it is election season, and we are here with our first round of battleground state polls for this year's midterm elections.
The Democrat Josh Turek has an eight-point edge, 50% to 42% for the Republican Ashley Hinson on the ballot.
Now, how does that compare with the generic congressional ballot question? Well, here again, among registered voters, the Democrat on the ballot has plus five over the Republican in Iowa, 50% to 45%.
And turning to Texas, Democrat James Tallarico receives the support of 50% of registered voters to 44% for the Republican Ken Paxton.
And again, here, this mirrors somewhat what we're seeing on the congressional generic ballot question.
What do you think accounts for the Democrats' advantage in these two battleground states?
Well, let me just start it by saying this is like a big deal, potentially, because the Democrats need to flip four seats to get a majority in the Senate.
They weren't given much chance at the starting gun, you know, when this whole campaign sort of began that seemed like too tall an order, too much headwind.
And so let's just say that the Democrats have three places where they are vulnerable.
We'll be taking a look at some of those later on in the campaign, Michigan, New Hampshire and Georgia.
So this issue here is how the Democrats do well and win a couple red states for Donald Trump won by double digits in order to gain control of the Senate.
So then we look at Iowa and Texas and, you know, those are two of the states that Donald Trump did, you know, very well in.
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