Republicans are looking for a new sense of unity amid concerns that recent infighting, a series of divisive primaries and several high-profile Democratic political victories could erode what should otherwise be a promising chance at recapturing the House and Senate majorities this year.
Despite GOP leaders’ push to make the 2022 midterm elections a referendum on Democrats’ handling of everything from inflation to immigration, a messier picture has unfolded in recent weeks. High-profile primaries have yielded some deeply polarizing Republican nominees, while the party has been consumed by debates over the best way to counter Democrats’ recent political wins.
“I don’t think the message has been as sharp as it needs to be,” one longtime Republican strategist said. “It’s about drawing a clear contrast. Now, I think there are folks trying to do that. But some of the other stuff — the election denial stuff, abortion — it all kind of muddles the argument.”
Republicans are still favored to win back control of the House this year. While inflation cooled somewhat in July, it’s still abnormally high, and an economic recession remains a looming possibility. At the same time, Democrats are haunted by President Biden’s dismal approval ratings and the underlying reality that the party in power tends to lose ground in Congress in midterm elections.
But there are also signs that the political landscape of 2022 may not be as bleak for Democrats as it once looked.
