JD Vance urges voters to treat 2026 midterms like a presidential election, says the Trump agenda ‘doesn’t work’ if ‘crazies’ win

Vice President JD Vance is pushing for a shift in voter behavior, urging the Republican base to treat the 2026 midterms with the same level of urgency as a presidential election. During an exclusive interview aboard Air Force Two, the vice president explained that the success of President Trump’s agenda depends entirely on maintaining control of Congress. 

As reported by the NY Post, he expressed concern that the party’s coalition has not yet translated its presidential election energy into consistent turnout for off-year contests. The stakes are high for the GOP as they reportedly face significant electoral headwinds. Current polling data from RealClearPolitics shows Democrats leading on the generic congressional ballot by more than eight percentage points. 

This gap is remarkably similar to the position Democrats held ahead of the 2018 midterms. While the party managed to flip the House in 2022 with a lead of two-and-a-half percentage points, the current environment presents a much tougher climb.

Vance says the entire agenda is on the ballot

Vance acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining momentum, noting that enthusiasm among core supporters typically dips during midterm cycles. He emphasized that the administration is focused on changing this dynamic to ensure the party remains effective.

“I really think it’s important to kind of get people to think that … in many ways the president is on the ballot. Yes, I’m on the ballot too, but the entire agenda is on the ballot,” Vance told the NY Post. “Hopefully that will generate some enthusiasm.”

The challenge of voter turnout is well-documented. University of Florida data reportedly a stark contrast, with 64.3% of the voting-eligible population participating in the 2024 presidential election, compared to only 46.1% in the 2022 midterms. 

To bridge this gap, President Trump has taken steps like hosting a GOP midterm convention in Dallas and pushing for a mid-decade redistricting effort that could potentially secure the party 11 additional seats. A national GOP strategist familiar with the operation noted that if they can increase turnout by just 2 to 4 percentage points in contested races, they expect to hold both the House and the Senate.

Data experts point to a clear divide within the party. Brent Buchanan, CEO of the pollster Cygnal, reportedly noted that while Trump supporters remain highly engaged, traditional conservatives are 26 points less likely to express excitement about voting. 

Buchanan argued that the party must pivot its message to focus on tangible results, saying, “They do not need another recap rally of what has already happened. They need to hear what the party will do next to make life more affordable, more stable, and more workable for their families. That is the turnout fight Republicans have to win.”

Vance is also emphasizing the necessity of candidate quality to protect the broader agenda. He warned that the party’s goals are at risk if the wrong candidates reach office. “The good news is: a lot of new voters, a whole lot of excitement, enthusiasm from a broad group of people, I mean, frankly, a much more diverse group of people than traditional Republicans have gotten,” Vance said.

He further stated, “The bad news is they show up for Trump; they haven’t yet shown up for Republicans. And I think what the president’s trying to do is remind them that the Trump agenda doesn’t work if you elect a bunch of crazy people to Congress.”

The vice president’s strategy involves framing the opposition in stark terms. During his convention speech, he reportedly urged voters to send the “crazies” packing by November 3. He characterized the current Democratic Party as being defined by a disdain for the country, diverging from its historical roots.