According to a March 14 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, support for Republican control of Congress has declined among several groups that are important for Republican victories this November.
With white voters, a group that voted for Congressional Republicans 60%-38% nationwide in the 2014 Midterms, according to 2014 exit polls, support is down three points since January and is now 47%. Among voters in Congressional Districts with Republican incumbents, there was a six-point drop since January (now 46%). Support for Republican control of Congress is also down seven points with suburban voters (now 43%) and down nine with white-collar workers (now 38%). Suburban voters backed Republicans 55%-43% in 2014, while white-collar workers, or those likely making over $50,000 per year, backed the GOP by over 50% that year.
This decline among these groups may be related to each party’s level of interest in the Midterm Elections. According to the NBC/WSJ poll, 60% of Democrats ranked their interest at the highest level, compared to just 54% of Republicans. Suburban Republican or Independent voters, for example, may not yet be as interested in voting this year as their Democratic neighbors.
This is only one poll, but it is a reminder Republican incumbents and candidates must pay attention to certain voters they need in November, like those in the suburbs and college-educated, white-collar workers who are today sliding away from the party or are not yet engaged. Voters who supported Republicans in the last Midterm Elections must be given reasons to get out to vote by being shown why electing Republicans will be better for their families, communities and country.
