By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., disputed recent polling suggesting Republicans could lose control of the House of Representatives in November, insisting Tuesday that surveys are failing to capture Republican enthusiasm and support in competitive congressional districts.
During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom, Johnson told co-host Dana Perino that his firsthand experiences campaigning across the country contradict the unfavorable polling numbers confronting Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Perino asked the speaker to respond to political analysts who believe Democrats are positioned to reclaim the House majority.
“I’m going to give you a shot here to respond to some political analysts who say the House is gone, that the Dems are definitely going to be in the majority,” Perino said. “You disagree. You say that you can defy those odds. Here’s — you have the floor. How so?”
Johnson pointed to his extensive campaign schedule and argued that traditional polling methods are failing to accurately measure Republican support.
“Yes, thank you, Dana. Good to be with you. We’re excited. I’m in Texas today. We will do three events here, and then I will head — I think I have got eight states this week. I have been doing this for almost two years, and I’m telling you, the polling is wrong. Now, you have a lot of polling organizations right now acknowledging that they’re undersampling Republicans, because Republicans don’t want to respond to polls anymore.”
The speaker cited an analysis by CNN examining historical differences between October polling and subsequent election results.
“So, CNN did a story, Dana, just this week and acknowledged that Republicans have been underestimated in October polls 14 of the last 16 elections going back to 1994,” Johnson continued.
“Don’t buy it. I’m telling you, I’m on the ground in the swing districts. I am seeing huge energy in crowds. It feels like 2024 to me. That’s not registering in the polls, and we’re fired up.”
Johnson’s remarks come as Republicans face a challenging political environment marked by voter concerns about inflation, energy prices and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
A Reuters analysis published Monday identified several factors that could affect the election, including Republican fundraising advantages, district boundaries and uncertainties surrounding voter turnout.
Recent polling has shown Democrats leading Republicans in national congressional preferences, although historical polling errors have prompted questions about whether surveys are accurately representing the electorate.
An October 8 Washington Post examination noted that polling underestimated Republican support during several recent election cycles, particularly among voters who were less likely to participate in surveys.
However, polling organizations have adjusted their methods in response to previous inaccuracies, and past errors do not establish that current surveys are necessarily underestimating Republicans.
Johnson has continued traveling through competitive congressional districts in an effort to support Republican candidates and mobilize voters.
The speaker has also emphasized the party’s fundraising efforts and campaign organization as reasons for remaining confident despite unfavorable national indicators.
Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority, leaving control of the chamber dependent on relatively small shifts in competitive districts.
Johnson’s message reflects his belief that Republican enthusiasm and voter turnout could produce results stronger than current polling suggests.
With three weeks remaining before Election Day, the speaker is urging Republicans to focus on campaigning and turnout rather than treating polling averages as definitive predictions.
The outcome will determine whether Johnson retains the House speakership and whether Republicans continue controlling the legislative agenda during the second half of President Donald Trump’s current term.
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