Poll Indicates Issues That Could Benefit Trump, Republicans In Midterms
Historically, the party in power in the White House loses seats in Congress, but there are a few unique things in play this midterm election cycle that could work in favor of President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
Mid-cycle redistricting in several red states has boosted Republicans’ chances to gain seats and keep the House. And now, a new poll shows that the GOP has an advantage over Democrats on some key issues of importance to voters.
A recent national survey conducted by the Tyson Group found strong public support for policies designed to reduce energy and grocery costs, highlighting several issues Republicans believe could resonate with voters ahead of the November elections.
The poll found that many Americans remain focused on everyday economic concerns, including rising household expenses and access to affordable energy. Republicans have pointed to those findings as evidence that economic issues, healthcare access for seniors, preparedness for the upcoming flu season and the regulation of artificial intelligence could become key campaign themes in the final months before the midterms, the Washington Examiner first reported.
“President Trump and Congress have a playbook in front of them,” the polling memo states.
“Deliver on what voters actually care about before they head to the polls and the midterm math gets a lot more favorable,” the memo added.
Energy policy ranked highest among six issues tested in a recent survey, with 88% of likely general election voters saying it was important to expand U.S. energy infrastructure to help reduce gasoline and electricity costs.
The poll also found that nearly 82% of respondents viewed ensuring that flu vaccines remain available, accessible and affordable as a priority, said the outlet.
Healthcare-related concerns drew strong support across party lines.
According to the survey, 87% of voters said it was important for federal health agencies to prepare for flu season in advance, while 78% supported efforts to accelerate the approval of updated vaccines for influenza and other respiratory illnesses, the Examiner noted, citing the survey.
The findings were released during the same week Trump signed an executive order that would reshape federal childhood vaccine recommendations.
Among the changes is a shift in guidance on flu vaccinations for children, moving away from a universal recommendation and toward a model that emphasizes shared decision-making between families and healthcare providers, said the outlet.
Support for accelerating the approval of updated flu vaccines remained strong across political affiliations.
More than 85% of Republicans backed the policy, while 94% of Democrats and 86% of independent voters said federal health agencies should be prepared before the start of flu season, said the survey.
Similar trends emerged in separate swing-state surveys cited by the Tyson Group.
Support for approving updated flu vaccines before the start of the season reached 80% in Texas, 77% in New Hampshire, 76% in Ohio, 71% in both Michigan and Florida, and 70% in Maine, the survey said.
Artificial intelligence also emerged as a potential area of bipartisan agreement.
Nearly 73% of voters said it was important for the United States to establish global standards for regulating AI while competing with China in the rapidly developing technology sector.
Previous Tyson Group polling cited in the report found that 72% of Americans supported government oversight of artificial intelligence, while 63% expressed concern that geopolitical rivals such as China were advancing the technology more quickly than the United States, the Examiner noted.
Economic concerns also remained a dominant issue.
The survey found that 71% of respondents supported creating a single national standard for food ingredient labeling instead of maintaining different requirements across individual states, the survey said.
Seniors represented another area of broad agreement in the survey.
About 66% of respondents said maintaining access to knee and hip replacement procedures was important as policymakers continue to debate potential Medicare reimbursement reductions for healthcare providers, said the survey.
According to the Tyson Group, the issue could carry added political significance because older Americans traditionally vote at higher rates than other demographic groups and often play an outsized role in determining election outcomes, it added.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
