Party Control Matters

Compared with other recent midterm elections, many more voters, regardless of party affiliation, say partisan control of Congress will be a factor in their vote when they go to the polls on Tuesday. Fully 61% of registered voters now express this view; fewer than half did so in November 2002 (48%) and November 1998 (46%). As Republicans have become more engaged in the campaign in recent weeks, an increasing number (65%) also say that the issue of party control of Congress will influence their vote, up from 58% in early October and 54% in June. The percentage of Democrats who view partisan control of Congress as a factor in their vote has remained more stable; 73% say that, up slightly from early October, but largely unchanged from June. Read More