This is your RNC News podcast.
The Republican Party is navigating significant internal divisions as the 2028 presidential race begins to take shape. More than a third of 2024 Trump voters do not identify as MAGA Republicans, and this split is creating real challenges for GOP unity heading into the 2026 midterms. Non-MAGA Trump voters are already showing signs of turning against the former president, with higher numbers blaming him for economic troubles and expressing concerns about his accumulating power. On generic congressional ballot voting, MAGA Republicans show strong party loyalty at 92 percent, while non-MAGA Trump voters only back Republican candidates at 62 percent, suggesting the broader coalition is fracturing.
The redistricting battle is intensifying as a major focus for Republican leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to huddle with Indiana House Republicans this weekend via conference call at 1 p.m. Saturday to discuss upcoming congressional map redraws, marking an escalation of his involvement in mid-cycle redistricting efforts. The administration is simultaneously pushing aggressive redistricting in Texas, Louisiana, and other states, with President Trump previously stating that a simple redrawing in Texas alone could pick up five seats for Republicans. However, these redistricting efforts are facing legal challenges from voting rights advocates who argue they violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of Black and Latino communities.
On the polling front, Republicans face headwinds ahead of 2026. The generic congressional ballot shows Democrats leading Republicans by 4.8 points, with Democrats at 46.6 percent and Republicans at 41.8 percent. Trump's favorable rating stands at 43.2 percent against an unfavorable rating of 53.1 percent, while the Republican Party itself sits at 40.2 percent favorable and 53 percent unfavorable. Recent off-year elections have provided evidence that the Trump coalition is not holding, with Latino voters and young males shifting back toward Democrats.
In candidate news, Vivek Ramaswamy, the former co-chair of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, secured Trump's formal endorsement on November 8 for Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race. Trump called Ramaswamy young, strong, smart, and deeply in love with the United States. A recent Bowling Green University poll shows Ramaswamy leading both potential Democratic nominees, with a three-point advantage over Amy Acton and a two-point lead over Tim Ryan.
The party is also grappling with broader economic messaging challenges, particularly in healthcare. Among MAGA Republicans, 85 percent trust Republicans more to bring down healthcare costs, but among non-MAGA Trump voters, that number drops to just 55 percent, with 19 percent trusting Democrats instead.
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