Whit Ayres’ comments in the Financial Times on RFK Jr and vaccines: Kennedy’s emphasis on healthy eating has been widely popular, but his vaccine scepticism contrasts with roughly 80 per cent of Republicans who have expressed confidence in childhood vaccines, said Republican pollster Whit Ayres. “When he is casting aspersions on the safety of vaccines,...
“Bringing home the bacon might be one way to distinguish yourself from the President.”
Government SpendingRepublicansTrumpWhit AyresOctober 30, 2026
Whit Ayres’ comments to Politico regarding earmarks: “When the president’s job approval is in the 30s, it is helpful for Republican candidates to be able to create some distance from the president. It’s challenging to do that without encouraging the president’s wrath,” Republican pollster Whit Ayres said in an interview. “But focusing on bringing home...
“Cultural issues are still present but they don’t carry the same juice.”
Cultural IssuesTrumpWhit AyresOctober 29, 2026
Whit Ayres’ comments in USA Today on social issues in the 2026 elections: Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster and strategist, said the avalanche of anti-trans and other cultural attacks are unlikely to prove as potent for Republicans in the 2026 midterms as they did in the 2024 election. “Right now, the cultural issues that worked...
CampaignRepublicansWhit AyresOctober 29, 2026
Whit Ayres joined PBS Newshour to discuss the Vivek Ramaswamy ad in the Ohio Governor’s race: Geoff, there’s a widespread assumption in the political consultant community that negative ads work. And a lot of them do if they’re credible, if they’re believable, and especially if they use the opponent’s words against them. But it’s also...
“Most Republican lawmakers are pretty well established as being against Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.”
Jon McHenryRepublicansRussiaTrumpOctober 29, 2026
Jon McHenry discussing President Trump’s negotiations with Russia on NPR: Jon McHenry, a Republican pollster, told me it also puts a number of GOP lawmakers in a difficult position. JON MCHENRY: Because on the one hand, they don’t want to cross or seem to cross President Trump, who’s really important to midterm turnout. But on...
“That’s a testament to how tough an environment it is for Republicans.”
CampaignDan JudyRepublicansOctober 29, 2026
Dan Judy’s comments in The Hill regarding the election environment: “The House is almost certainly going to go Democratic,” admitted GOP strategist Dan Judy. “The question is, is it a huge wave or more of a pretty solid victory?” Regarding the upper chamber, Judy added, “It’s amazing that the Senate is even a conversation. That’s...
Dan Judy’s comments in The Hill on midterm strategy for Republicans and the visibility of President Trump: “There’s not an easy answer,” said Republican strategist Dan Judy, who is sometimes critical of Trump. “If you say, ‘I don’t want him anywhere near here’ you really do risk not getting that turnout boost that you have...
“A lot of the attraction of farmers to Trump was cultural as well as economic, and that hasn’t gone away.”
TrumpWhit AyresJune 26, 2026
Whit Ayres appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss President Trump’s efforts to retain farmers’ support: KURTZLEBEN: It all seems to be part of a push to lavish attention on farmers. Earlier this month, Trump went to Wisconsin for a farmer roundtable. Tonight, he’s bringing farmers to the White House for a Rose Garden dinner....
“It’s a delicate dance to make sure your base gets out at the same time you get sufficient independents to win a majority.”
Independent VotersTrumpWhit AyresJune 24, 2026
Whit Ayres’ comments in The Washington Post regarding the midterm election: While it’s not uncommon for swing-district candidates to keep some distance between themselves and an unpopular incumbent president, “it’s different this time because the president’s job approval is so low,” said Republican pollster Whit Ayres. “That’s what makes it particularly challenging.” “Almost by definition,...
RFK, Jr.Whit AyresMay 17, 2026
Whit Ayres’ comments about Secretary Robert F. Kennedy in The Detroit News: Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster, warned that it remained to be seen if voters would put aside their views of Kennedy after he spent years sowing doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, contrary to scientific evidence. “The vast majority of Americans...
