US House Speaker Johnson rejects polls, insists GOP majority safe

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted that Republicans will retain their majority in the House during the midterm elections scheduled for November 2026, rejecting opinion polls that show Democrats in the lead. He described such polls as “historically inaccurate” and predicted they would be embarrassed again, as he claims happened in the 2024 elections.

Johnson based his assessment on what he called growing enthusiasm among Republican voters. He noted that he visited more than 40 congressional districts in 22 states this month, witnessing large crowds from New York to California, Alaska, and South Florida. Speaking on Fox News, he said: “It feels exactly like 2024.”

Explaining the gap between poll results and what he observes on the campaign trail, Johnson said Republicans are now less likely to respond to surveys, attributing this to “flawed analysis.” He also accused some polling organizations of being exposed for publishing “completely fake” numbers.

Johnson cited an analysis indicating that 14 out of 16 polls conducted in October during the previous elections underestimated Republican support by an average of four points. He added that when he asks attendees at campaign rallies if they have participated in a poll in the past six months, only about three out of 300 typically raise their hands, according to his account.

Defending the Republican record, the House Speaker said voters judge the party by its “track record” rather than “rhetoric,” highlighting what he described as lowering living costs, achieving the largest tax cut in history, improving security, and restoring American dominance. He added that Democrats voted against these policies.

Johnson’s remarks come as several polls indicate Democrats are leading in the general vote for Congress, including a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Democratic candidates ahead among likely voters.

Despite these indicators, Johnson maintains that the large crowds at Republican rallies reflect a reality different from the poll results, and he relies on this to express confidence in his party’s ability to retain its House majority.