House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is standing by his claim that polls showing Democrats with an advantage in next week’s midterm elections are inaccurate.
During an appearance on FNC’s “Fox News Sunday,” Johnson attributed the results to what he called “faulty analysis.”
Host Shannon Bream pointed to Fox News’ latest House power rankings, which place 219 seats in the solidly Democratic column and 198 with Republicans, leaving 18 races classified as toss-ups. She noted that the network’s election-night forecast gives Democrats as many as 237 seats in a strong performance, while a favorable night for Republicans would still leave Democrats with 219 seats—enough to retain the majority. “You say those predictions are wrong. Why?” Bream asked.
MORE STORY: Nicki Minaj Joins Donald Trump in Michigan, Dressed in Gucci
“Those polls are wrong,” Johnson said, arguing that they rely on flawed methods. He cited two polling organizations that he said had been exposed in the past week for producing fraudulent numbers, while claiming that more established pollsters have acknowledged under-sampling Republican voters. Johnson also referenced a CNN report stating that 14 of the previous 16 October polls in those races had under-sampled Republicans by an average of four percentage points. Republicans, he said, are increasingly unwilling to participate in surveys.
Johnson pointed to his own campaign travels as evidence. He said he had visited 21 states and 39 congressional districts over the past three weeks, focusing on competitive areas where Republicans hope to defeat Democratic incumbents. Hundreds of people, he said, have attended his events, creating an enthusiasm level comparable to 2024.
Follow Jeff Poor on X @jeff_poor