Internal polling spooks influential GOP group: 'Senate majority is at risk'

Internal polling has spooked an influential conservative group, which issued a warning that the Republican Senate majority is increasingly at risk.

The powerful GOP super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action implored Republicans to improve their cost-of-living messaging or risk a return to minority status, according to a new memo obtained by Politico.

“As it stands today, our view is that the Republican Senate majority is at risk,” wrote AFP senior adviser Emily Seidel and executive director Nathan Nascimento. “Our internal polling in several battleground states and one-on-one conversations with voters show that for the first time, Democrats are more trusted on the economy and inflation.”

The Koch-aligned super PAC notified Republicans that its grassroots teams have conducted hundreds of thousands of face-to-face conversations across battleground states to discuss the Working Families Tax Cut, better known as President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, and the message has been consistent.

"The cost of living is the defining issue of 2026 — spanning housing, groceries, energy, and childcare," Seidel and Nascimento wrote.

"Voters want to see candidates do everything in their power to lower costs," they added. "Where results are achievable, they should be pursued aggressively. But even in a difficult legislative environment, the path to voter trust runs through substance — a credible, specific, and consistent plan to lower costs that voters can evaluate. Slogans will not close the gap. A serious plan can."

The organization made its plea urgent.

“The window to act is now,” they said.

They urged Republicans to maintain a “relentless focus on driving costs down and keeping them low.”

“Every policy fight, every floor speech, every campaign event should answer one question — what are you doing to lower the cost of living for working families?” they write.

Trump's approval rating on the economy continues to plummet, which a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey showing just 22 percent of Americans approve of his handling of cost-of-living issues.