He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

Democrats pretty much ran on Trump and the shutdown.

And Trump is right about one thing, a lot of voters only turn out to vote for him, which is the biggest problem with MAGA. They are voting only for a person, and when that person isn't on the ballot, they don't care.

If Trump truly believes that, he needs to be going to Dem senators, hat in hand, to beg them to end the shutdown.

But he doesn't believe that.

People are dumb and predictable

Govt beenies create dependency, now people vote to keep the leash on their neck and demand more beenies


Govern me harder daddy!

Also, not great candidates in NYC. Conservatives needed to raise up a younger generation of leaders that didn't kill meemaw only 5 years ago.

Believe President Trump is incorrect on the first; and rather right on the second.

The shutdown is only just now shading into the "aging poorly" category. In that sense, similar to some of the ICE round-ups. Even Mike Gallagher was expressing reservations on Friday. These have probably created some counter eddies in the current too.

But most of all, yes, without Trump being on ticket, or more precisely, national stakes, turnout lower. But don't think govt worker VA was ever going to go otherwise.

The only surprise is them endorsing nonetheless the murderously minded AG. For a law enforcement role.

But not much else. For a real surprise, look at Mississippi's elections -- the Dems broke the Senate super-majority there. A real set back more than NY and VA doing as they would do. There may be other examples people are overlooking that Trump is aware of?

BQ78 said:

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If Trump truly believes that, he needs to be going to Dem senators, hat in hand, to beg them to end the shutdown.

But he doesn't believe that.

---

Then he shouldn't have said it. It weakens their position against the democrats.

Rapier108 said:

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Democrats pretty much ran on Trump and the shutdown.

And Trump is right about one thing, a lot of voters only turn out to vote for him, which is the biggest problem with MAGA. They are voting only for a person, and when that person isn't on the ballot, they don't care.

---

This is very true. And it's why I have said all along that even with the greatness of JD Vance, Ron DeSantis, and Marco Rubio, there will be a point, maybe sooner than anyone wants to admit, that the only choice that the GOP will have in future Presidential elections will be Donald Trump, Jr. Not saying that's in 2028, but I could EASILY see it in 2032 if we have President Newsom.

The Guilfoyle Bowl is almost self-fulfilling...

Rapier108 said:

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Democrats pretty much ran on Trump and the shutdown.

And Trump is right about one thing, a lot of voters only turn out to vote for him, which is the biggest problem with MAGA. They are voting only for a person, and when that person isn't on the ballot, they don't care.

---

He also won't be on any future ballot unless he chooses to run for a senate or house seat.

Exactly, it is another case of Trump's flapping his jaw too much.

Agreed. Unless he is looking at a fuller picture. Again the Mississippi elections. Has someone looked around the rest of the 50 states? Did this setback take place in other areas Trump might have noticed more?

These candidates ran an cost of good, cost of rent, cost of everything and it resonates with there constituency. Inflation is still an issue, the administration ran on it.

MemphisAg1 said:

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He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

Trump needs to stop trying to spend all of his time flying around the planet ending the Russian/Ukrainian war

and go to PA and NC and GA and MI and WI and talk with workers at every factory!

HTownAg98 said:

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Rapier108 said:

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Democrats pretty much ran on Trump and the shutdown.

And Trump is right about one thing, a lot of voters only turn out to vote for him, which is the biggest problem with MAGA. They are voting only for a person, and when that person isn't on the ballot, they don't care.

---

He also won't be on any future ballot unless he chooses to run for a senate or house seat.

---

You don't vote for King, Mister Falcon!!!1

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

I live in NoVA. There was no enthusiasm for the Republicans but the Dems are super fired up here as others have mentioned. There really wasn't anything motivating Republicans to vote in a blue state where we assume the Dems are going to win easily.

Youngkin won because people were pissed about the Biden administration and motivated to vote. No motivation this time around.

Leftists voters vote for more leftism and somehow you people blame this on Trump? Trump is an idiot for saying the reason the D's won is because he wasn't on the ticket, but let's not also agree with that idiotic statement when the real issue is how many voters we have in country that support leftism.

Conservative apathy is an issue but a minor one compared to the enthusiastic left.

YouBet said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

---

Its not the tariffs -- its all the international intervention. Its starting to play poorly. I am hearing it. If it was only the tariffs it wouldn't be as visible. There is a perception eye has been taken off the domestic ball. And we are talking about perception here as you said.

The biggest concern for me wasn't the election results in NY, NJ, or VA, but rather the PA Supreme Court elections. The liberal Dem justices won reelection in a landslide. Scott Pressler's relentless efforts to get the R vote out proved to be for naught.

People vote for Trump. They don't vote for Rs or conservatives.

KingofHazor said:

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People vote for Trump. They don't vote for Rs or conservatives.

---

Republicans don't have a lot of accomplishments recently. I don't blame voters and unless Vance/Rubio/DeSantis can inherit the MAGA movement seamlessly from Trump, there's trouble on the horizon.

People seem shocked that Dems won in NYC, VA and NJ. Those people want Trump thrown in jail. They are low information voters who believe Mandami (sp?) is in it for the common folk. Nothing is further from the truth, and they'll pull the same lever down the road.

The most surprising thing about President Trump's remarks are that he has not (yet) baselessly claimed election fraud.

So what sort of king is Trump? Is he Louis XV (after me the deluge) or is he Caesar Augustus?

LMCane said:

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Trump needs to stop trying to spend all of his time flying around the planet ending the Russian/Ukrainian war

and go to PA and NC and GA and MI and WI and talk with workers at every factory!

---

I can't star this enough. Precisely what I think.

titan said:

---

YouBet said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

---

Its not the tariffs -- its all the international intervention. Its starting to play poorly. I am hearing it. If it was only the tariffs it wouldn't be as visible. There is a perception eye has been taken off the domestic ball. And we are talking about perception here as you said.

---

The economy was the #1 issue in nearly all of the exit polls. I don't think international intervention was even a choice in any of the polls I saw. And I realize that the economy encompasses much more than just tariffs, but sometimes "it's the economy, stupid."

I can almost guarantee you the midterms will look nothing like these demographics.

HTownAg98 said:

---

titan said:

---

YouBet said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

---

Its not the tariffs -- its all the international intervention. Its starting to play poorly. I am hearing it. If it was only the tariffs it wouldn't be as visible. There is a perception eye has been taken off the domestic ball. And we are talking about perception here as you said.

---

The economy was the #1 issue in nearly all of the exit polls. I don't think international intervention was even a choice in any of the polls I saw. And I realize that the economy encompasses much more than just tariffs, but sometimes "it's the economy, stupid."

---

Correct. Gotta be careful here. Remember Bush41 lost after spectacular foreign policy results because the perception was willing to let the economy stay in a malaise, and Clinton exploited it.

One thing that people forget is that for every 10 voters that Trump brings to the polls to vote just for him, he probably brings 5 dem voters to the polls that hate him.

The good thing about Vance is that he is a likeable guy. The Left is trying to Sarah Palin him, claiming he is a goofball, but that is just not the case. He is a very smart man with an IVY league education, time in the military, a lightning fast wit, he wrote a great book, and has a brown wife.

Vance will not inspire the turnout that Trump got, but that goes for both sides.

HTownAg98 said:

---

titan said:

---

YouBet said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

---

Its not the tariffs -- its all the international intervention. Its starting to play poorly. I am hearing it. If it was only the tariffs it wouldn't be as visible. There is a perception eye has been taken off the domestic ball. And we are talking about perception here as you said.

---

The economy was the #1 issue in nearly all of the exit polls. I don't think international intervention was even a choice in any of the polls I saw. And I realize that the economy encompasses much more than just tariffs, but sometimes "it's the economy, stupid."

---

Inflation is an important part of the economy.

Trump is going to have to get better on fighting inflation.

BQ78 said:

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So what sort of king is Trump? Is he Louis XV (after me the deluge) or is he Caesar Augustus?

---

Trump is the unquestioned head of MAGA. The GOP better figure out how to replace him if they expect to have a chance next presidential cycle.

Sorry, if the truth inconveniences you.

Trek Strategy said:

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Also, not great candidates in NYC. Conservatives needed to raise up a younger generation of leaders that didn't kill meemaw only 5 years ago.

---

Those people do not exist in NY in numbers to win. Immigrants and communists have taken over New York. They will not relinquish power willingly.

I think you misinterpreted my post. Trump, even as a Lame duck, will have more pull with his followers than the GOP. So it matters how he thinks about what comes after him.

BusterAg said:

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HTownAg98 said:

---

titan said:

---

YouBet said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

He blamed the outcome on the shutdown and the fact he wasn't on the ticket.

First off, it's a pretty small sample with NYC, NJ, and VA being the ones I've seen in the media

NYC and NJ were always going to go blue. No surprise there. Did the shutdown motivate more Dems to vote in those states? Maybe, but they still would have voted blue without a shutdown.

For VA, they voted blue in the last election also. Trumps move to fire a lot of federal workers didn't gain him any points in NOVA. I'm in DC frequently and a lot of people were pissed with the abrupt and harsh way the headcount reductions took place, even if it didn't impact them personally. They didn't like it happening to their neighbors. Elon didn't help the R's in NOVA. There was a lot of Trump hate that boiled over.

It is what it is. Totally predictable and understandable.

The R's biggest challenge for the midterms in 2026 will be the state of the economy. The tax bill was generally received favorably, but the fallout of tariffs remains to be seen. Right now they're causing a lot of pain and frustration. Some people are happy with them, but I hear a lot more people that don't like them, including many Trump voters. Still 12 months out. Anything can happen.

---

Reading up on this this week and tariffs have largely been a non-event for most people and haven't had near the negative impact as everyone thought they would based on the data. Variety of reasons for that.

Regardless, perception is reality when it comes to politics and if people think that tariffs have impacted them then that's really all that matters when it comes to voting.

---

Its not the tariffs -- its all the international intervention. Its starting to play poorly. I am hearing it. If it was only the tariffs it wouldn't be as visible. There is a perception eye has been taken off the domestic ball. And we are talking about perception here as you said.

---

The economy was the #1 issue in nearly all of the exit polls. I don't think international intervention was even a choice in any of the polls I saw. And I realize that the economy encompasses much more than just tariffs, but sometimes "it's the economy, stupid."

---

Inflation is an important part of the economy.

Trump is going to have to get better on fighting inflation.

---

I've said this years ago on this board - but the best time to start a tariff trade war is when the economy is hot, not when it is in the dumpster and definitely not when inflation is already high.

To the average person, it makes no difference if an increase in cost is because of inflation or due to the new tariffs (which isn't strictly "inflation"). While the cause of the increase is semantically different, the end result is the same to the average consumer.

BQ78 said:

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I think you misinterpreted my post. Trump, even as a Lame duck, will have more pull with his followers than the GOP. So it matters how he thinks about what comes after him.

---

Fair enough. My apologies since I did read you the wrong way.

I hope Trump is wise enough to know he needs to transition the leadership of his movement over to a humble and self-aware public servant. I rank Vance, Rubio, and then DeSanctis as the most likely successors as of today in that order.

Each of these men have demonstrated the ability and willingness to punch back and effectively so. Unfortunately, none of them have the personal fortunes that allowed Trump to survive and remain viable during his 4 years out of power. Each could easily be crushed by lawfare without the protections of public office to shied them from trumped-up lawsuits and investigations and charges.