Election Impact Group

06/05/2026

Most voters believe the U.S. economy has gotten worse since last year, but they’re divided over which party can do a better job of handling it.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters say the economy has gotten worse in the past year. Only 17% think the economy has gotten better, and 21% believe the economy has stayed about the same in the past year.

Most voters believe the U.S. economy has gotten worse since last year, but they’re divided over which party can do a better job of handling it.

06/04/2026

Faculty members at top American universities overwhelmingly donate to far-left candidates, and the trend has only grown more dramatic over the past four decades, according to a new report by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

The report, released last week, is based on the political donation histories of tens of thousands of faculty members across dozens of U.S. universities. It found that professors are only slightly less radical than the most progressive members of the Democratic Party.

A new report from FIRE shows how the trend has accelerated over the past four decades.

06/03/2026

Voter approval for the Iran war has declined by 12 points in less than three months, while a majority approve of reported terms for a peace agreement.

06/02/2026

The FEC will host a Trade Association PAC Webinar next Tuesday, June 2 – Wednesday, June 3.

During this live, interactive training event, FEC staff will delve into the campaign finance rules pertaining to trade associations and their PACs, including solicitations, fundraising methods, supporting candidates, reporting scenarios, and other topics. If you are a trade association PAC treasurer or work with these types of PACs, this event is designed for you. Space is limited, so register soon to reserve your spot!

FEC Record Outreach Article Published April 21, 2026: FEC to host June 2 & 3 Trade Association PAC Webinar (2026)

06/01/2026

In Fischer v. Thomas, a split panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, authored by Judge Amul Thapar, held that state judicial ethics canons limiting a candidate's political speech violate the First Amendment. This decision deepens an active 3-2 circuit split regarding the constitutionality of restricting judicial campaign speech.

The Case Details:

The Decision: The Sixth Circuit permanently enjoined the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission from investigating or sanctioning two judicial candidates. The judges had described themselves as "conservatives" and "Republicans," and touted pro-life endorsements during the 2022 election season.

The Reasoning: Judge Thapar's opinion noted that when a state chooses to elect its judges directly, candidates must be allowed to communicate their views and political affiliations so voters understand their values.

The Exceptions: While the court upheld limits on direct political party donations and holding leadership roles in political organizations to preserve a nonpartisan appearance, issue-speech and ideological self-identification remain protected.

The Circuit Split:

The Divide: This ruling sets the Sixth Circuit alongside the Second and Eleventh Circuits in striking down stringent restrictions on judicial campaign speech.

The Opposition: It places these courts directly at odds with the Fifth and Eighth Circuits, which have historically maintained more restrictive rules designed to prevent judges from acting like partisan politicians.

First Amendment Protection for Judicial Candidates’ Ideological Self-Identification and Issue Speech (As-Applied Limits on Kentucky’s Judicial Canons)

05/31/2026

Democrats have opened one of their biggest congressional polling leads since George W. Bush was president two decades ago:

The latest N.Y. Times/Siena poll has Democrats up 50%-39% on the generic congressional ballot.

Why it matters: The GOP launched mid-cycle redistricting to save the House from a blue wave. Republicans fear the result if more polls land in this territory.

🗳️ Zoom in: Three very bad numbers for Republicans from the poll ...

President Trump's overall approval sits at 37% — "his lowest approval rating in any Times/Siena survey in either term," the N.Y. Times' Nate Cohn notes.
Just 19% of voters aged 18 to 29 approve of his job performance — a troubling sign for Republicans after Gen Z swung right in 2024.
Only 20% of Hispanics approve. That's a stunning collapse from a group Trump made historic gains with last election.

A 37 percent approval rating in a new Times/Siena poll suggests the G.O.P. is facing a big midterm problem despite recent redistricting gains.

05/31/2026

Polls suggest rising public concern, with fewer than half of Americans now saying Trump has the physical stamina or mental sharpness for the job.

Outside doctors, public polls question the nearly 80-year-old president's fitness

05/30/2026

Democrats have become more skeptical of AI and the industry behind it, while Republicans are significantly more likely to trust most AI companies, according to the annual Axios Harris Poll 100 brand reputation rankings.

AI companies aren't viewed equally — and those with narrower partisan gaps generally received higher reputational scores.

05/30/2026

According to the Mississippi School Boards Association, nearly 72% of school board members in the state’s 138 school districts are elected. 23 districts have both elected and appointed board members.

According to the Mississippi School Boards Association, nearly 72% of school board members in the state's 138 school districts are elected. 23 districts have both elected and appointed board members.

05/29/2026

An AP/NORC poll out this week found that around 6 in 10 Republicans approve of Trump's handling of the economy. That's down from about 8 in 10 in February.

A new poll finds that Republicans are unhappier with President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they’re largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues.