Inflation and tariffs shake Republican-leaning states in the Midwest

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than 90 years. But this year a Democrat is running neck-and-neck with an incumbent Republican.

What is happening? The quick answer is that the Republicans have a bad candidate.

The longer answer is that 2026 shows signs of being a bad year for any Republican. That includes Republicans in solidly Republican, midwestern states such as Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.

Discontent with inflation will spread across regional lines when 63 percent of all voters, including 73 percent of Independents agree, in a Fox poll last week, that “the Trump administration has made the economy worse.”

The poll found 62 percent of Americans say buying groceries is now a “major problem,” and 61 percent said the price of gas is a “major problem.” 

And there’s more: In the last year, voters have become even more negative on President Trump’s use of tariffs that fuel inflation and economic chaos. Opposition has grown by 7 percentage points to 64 percent.

Political alarm is now at the level that Decision Desk HQ gives the Democrats a 70 percent chance of winning the House and a 52 percent chance of winning the Senate.

Another flashing red light last week was news of Vice President Vance traveling to Kansas to campaign for the Republican incumbent. Two recent polls show the Democrat in the Kansas Senate race within five percentage points or with a one-point lead.

The Republicans’ problem in Kansas is exacerbated by damning reports about their candidate, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). At a Kansas State Fair debate Marshall was loudly booed when he tried to defend having sued patients, including mothers of newborn........

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