{"id":47726,"date":"2018-11-15T13:59:47","date_gmt":"2018-11-15T18:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2018\/11\/15\/4-trump-the-2018-election-and-beyond\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T12:29:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:29:22","slug":"4-trump-the-2018-election-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2018\/11\/15\/4-trump-the-2018-election-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"4. Trump, the 2018 election and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Large<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nearly two-thirds of those who say they voted in the midterm elections (64%) say Trump was a consideration in their vote, while 35% say the president was not much of a factor. Overall, 39% say their vote was a vote against Trump, while fewer (25%) say their choice was a vote for Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These views are similar to those expressed in a survey conducted before the election: In September<\/a>, 60% of registered voters said they viewed their vote as either a vote against Trump (37%) or for him (23%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those who reported voting for Democratic candidates, 71% characterize their vote as a vote against Trump, while about a quarter (26%) say he was not a factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those who voted for GOP congressional candidates, about half (52%) say their vote for Congress was a vote in support of Trump, while 44% say he was not a factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans say Trump \u2018mostly helped\u2019 GOP congressional candidates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Older<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (60%) say Trump mostly helped Republican candidates in the House and Senate around the country. Three-in-ten said Trump helped about as much as he hurt, while 9% say he mostly hurt GOP candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independents who lean toward the Republican Party are less likely than GOP identifiers to say Trump boosted the electoral prospects of Republican candidates. About half of Republican-leaning independents (49%) say Trump mostly helped Republican candidates, compared with two-thirds (67%) of those who identify as Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Older Republicans are significantly more likely than younger Republicans to see Trump\u2019s impact on GOP candidates as beneficial. Majorities of Republicans ages 65 and older (77%) and 50 to 64 (64%) say Trump mostly helped Republican candidates. About half of those ages 35 to 49 (52%) say he mostly helped, while 36% say he helped as much as he hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans under 35 (45%) are far less likely to say Trump\u2019s impact on candidates was mostly helpful. About four-in-ten say Trump had a mixed (41%) effect, and 13% say he did more to hurt Republican congressional candidates around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Majority of Republicans oppose GOP challenge to Trump in 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Republicans<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (61%) say they would not like to see other Republican candidates challenge Trump for the party\u2019s nomination for president in 2020. Four-in-ten Republicans (37%) said they would like to see a GOP challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is roughly on par with views of Obama among Democrats after the 2010 midterm elections, when the party lost its majority in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the 2010 election, 38% of Democrats and Democratic leaners said they would like to see other Democratic candidates challenge Barack Obama for the Party\u2019s nomination in 2012. A majority (58%) said they would not like to see another Democrat challenge Obama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, there are large differences among Republicans by gender and age when it comes to a potential GOP challenger to Trump in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two-thirds of GOP men (67%) say they would not like a Republican candidate to challenge Trump for their party\u2019s nomination. In contrast, 53% of Republican women say they would not like a GOP candidate to challenge Trump, while 43% say they would like another GOP candidate to challenge Trump in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans ages 50 and older are considerably more likely than those under 50 to say Trump should not be challenged in 2020. Seven-in-ten of those over 50 say this, compared with just half of Republicans under 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while a majority of conservative Republicans (71%) say they would not <\/em>like a candidate to challenge Trump, far fewer moderate and liberal Republicans (45%) say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Republicans and Democrats continue to be optimistic about the future of their parties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The results of the midterm election had little effect on partisans\u2019 feelings about the future of their parties. Most Republicans and Republican leaners (83%) are optimistic about the future of the GOP, while a comparable share of Democrats and Democratic leaners (81%) are optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans are slightly more positive about their party\u2019s future than they were just prior to the midterm election (83% today vs. 75% in October). Democrats are about as optimistic about their party\u2019s future as they were in October (77% then vs. 81% now).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly two-thirds of those who say they voted in the midterm elections (64%) say Trump was a consideration in their vote, while 35% say the president was not much of a factor. Overall, 39% say their vote was a vote against Trump, while fewer (25%) say their choice was a vote for Trump. 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