Republican Fears Grow as Democrats Notch Midterm Election Victories

Losses in Wisconsin and Georgia special elections raise concerns for GOP ahead of 2026 midterms

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:18pm

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A fractured, abstract painting depicting a ballot box or voting booth in overlapping geometric shapes and waves of deep red, navy blue, and gold, conveying the high-stakes and chaotic energy of the upcoming midterm elections.As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the recent string of Democratic victories in traditionally Republican strongholds has raised concerns among GOP leaders about their party's momentum.Madison Today

Republican leaders are growing increasingly concerned about a string of Democratic victories in recent special elections, including wins in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race and the mayor's race in the conservative suburb of Waukesha, as well as a narrower-than-expected GOP victory in a Georgia special congressional election. These results are seen as signs of Democratic momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress and state governments will be at stake.

Why it matters

The Democratic wins in traditionally Republican areas are raising alarm bells for the GOP, which is hoping to regain control of Congress and state legislatures in the midterms. These results suggest that voter enthusiasm and turnout may be favoring Democrats, potentially complicating Republican efforts to retake power.

The details

In Wisconsin, Democrats flipped a state Supreme Court seat in a 20-point blowout victory, and the Democratic candidate for mayor of the conservative Waukesha suburb also won. In Georgia, the Republican candidate to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress won by a much slimmer margin than the party has enjoyed in the past. Some Republicans, like U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, acknowledged that the party 'got our butts kicked' in these elections.

  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court and Waukesha mayoral elections took place this week.
  • The Georgia special congressional election was held in recent weeks.

The players

Tom Tiffany

A U.S. Representative from Wisconsin who is running for governor and acknowledged the Republican losses in the state.

Jared Leopold

A Democratic consultant whose clients include Keisha Lance Bottoms, a candidate for Georgia governor.

Stephen Lawson

A Republican strategist in Georgia who said the GOP is running behind where it has been in the past and needs to carefully examine the results.

Meredith Brasher

A Democratic strategist who said the Georgia special election results are a 'red alarm for Republicans.'

Jackie Harling

The Republican chairwoman of the Georgia district where the special election took place, who said Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation energized Democrats while causing 'election fatigue' for Republicans.

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What they’re saying

“We got our butts kicked.”

— Tom Tiffany, U.S. Representative

“In rural, urban, red, blue, Democrats have overperformed everywhere. That is a significant canary in the coal mine about what November of '26 is going to look like.”

— Jared Leopold, Democratic consultant

“Marjorie Taylor Greene was like a freight train that you couldn't stop, and when she pulled out, it gave Democrats hope and it gave them a shot at winning something they believed was unwinnable.”

— Jackie Harling, Republican district chairwoman

What’s next

The results of these special elections will likely prompt further analysis and strategizing by both parties as they prepare for the high-stakes 2026 midterm elections.

The takeaway

The Democratic victories in traditionally Republican areas, including in Wisconsin and Georgia, are raising concerns among GOP leaders about their party's momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections. These results suggest that voter enthusiasm and turnout may be favoring Democrats, potentially complicating Republican efforts to retake control of Congress and state governments.