What GOP officials are hopeful — and worried — about six months from the midterms

2026 ElectionWhat GOP officials are hopeful — and worried — about six months from the midtermsNBC News spoke to roughly 30 Republican National Committee members and GOP activists around the country about how the party can keep control of Congress in November.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00President Donald Trump during a small-business summit in the East Room of the White House on May 4.Daniel Heuer / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 17, 2026, 5:51 AM EDTBy Matt DixonPresident Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot this year, but with roughly six months before Election Day, he’ll still likely be the biggest factor in determining the fortunes of the Republican Party.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Republicans have lost a number of elections in the past six months — sometimes by overwhelming margins — giving Democrats a sense of momentum. That feeling is exacerbated by Trump’s low approval ratings, his inability to lower stubbornly high costs and an ongoing war with Iran.On top of all that is the historical trend that the party that controls the White House generally loses congressional seats during the midterms.Nevertheless, Republicans across the country say they see reason for optimism.NBC News reached out to more than 120 members of the Republican National Committee and GOP activists across the country to get a sense of how they view their electoral chances at this point in time. In roughly 30 interviews, these Republicans said they believe the party can hold on to its majority in Congress. But they also had clear ideas about what they want from leaders at the national level in order to stave off a potential blue wave.“The 2026 midterms will come down to one simple question: Who is delivering real results for the American people?” Joseph Wood, chair of the Arkansas Republican Party, said. “President Trump’s administration has already run circles around the fai...