2026 Midterm Elections Outlook - Historical data suggests the party out of power typically gains control of the House in midterm elections following a new president's term [1] - Democrats face significant challenges due to their party's struggling brand with voters [2] Democratic Party Image - CNBC's latest poll indicates a positive image of 22% for Democrats compared to 36% for Republicans [3] - The Democratic party's image is at its worst in decades [4] - Less than half of Democrats hold a positive view of their own party, with a majority holding negative or neutral views [6] Generic Congressional Ballot - Despite low popularity, Democrats lead by five points on the generic congressional ballot [4] - 49% of voters who want Democrats to control Congress, only 44% have a positive impression of the Democratic party [8] - 44% of voters who want Republicans to control Congress, overwhelmingly positive toward the Republicans, only 5% with a negative view [8][9] Key Takeaway - Low Democratic popularity doesn't necessarily prevent them from winning the House, as dissatisfaction among Democrats isn't translating into Republican votes [10][11]