2026 Primary Preview: Voters Split on Party Direction, With Trump Still Dominating the Conversation
WASHINGTON — The 2026 midterm primary season is now underway, with voters across the nation beginning to shape the ideological battlefield for Congress. A new CBS News/YouGov survey reveals that for many, the central figure in that fight isn't on the ballot: former President Donald Trump.
The poll, conducted February 25-27, finds rank-and-file Democrats are roughly split. A significant portion wants the party to champion its own policy agenda, but an equal or greater number believes the primary message must be stopping Donald Trump's influence—a sentiment especially strong among self-described liberals.
On the Republican side, the directive is clearer. A majority say it's important for GOP candidates to be supportive of Trump, with the MAGA wing of the party viewing such allegiance as non-negotiable. Interestingly, Republicans express far less urgency about "stopping" Democrats, a dynamic political analysts attribute to the party currently holding power.
"Primaries are always this tug-of-war between the base's desires and the perceived electability in a general election," said Dr. Anya Sharma, a political scientist at Georgetown University. "This data shows the GOP base is prioritizing fealty to Trump, while Democrats are having an identity crisis over whether to be *for* something or *against* someone."
The internal Democratic debate extends to candidate ideology. Among all voters, appeal is evenly split between a liberal/progressive Democrat and a moderate. Within the party's own ranks, however, there's a slight tilt toward a progressive standard-bearer.
For Republican congressional candidates, the tilt is decisive: voters considering the GOP heavily prefer a candidate in line with Trump over one considered more independent.
Policy Perceptions: Immigration and the Economy
On specific issues, the poll shows nuanced shifts. Republicans and Trump maintain a slight edge over Democrats on who has the right approach to immigration policy, but the Democratic gap has narrowed since January. This shift coincides with separate polling showing decreased support for aggressive deportation programs and views that ICE is being "too tough."
Perceptions of who the parties represent are stark. One-third of Americans believe the Democratic Party puts the interests of recent immigrants ahead of U.S. citizens—a sentiment echoing pre-2022 midterm polls. Conversely, most believe the GOP prioritizes citizens over recent immigrants.
On economic policy, Democrats have drawn closer to Republicans in public perception since January, despite continued widespread negativity about the economy. A notable finding: while the economy remains a top concern for voters, many—particularly Republicans—believe Democrats are prioritizing cultural and social issues over economic ones. Democrats themselves reject that characterization.
Neither party escapes criticism on economic fairness. Most Americans do not see either party as putting middle-class interests ahead of the wealthy, though significantly more level that charge against the GOP.
When asked to label party positions as "extreme" or "mainstream," more voters overall view Democratic stances as mainstream compared to Republican stances, though sizable numbers describe both as extreme.
Voter Voices: A Snapshot of Sentiment
Marcus Johnson, 52, small business owner (Indianapolis, IN): "The poll confirms what I see every day. The Republican Party is the party of Trump, full stop. For better or worse, that's what the base wants. Any candidate trying to sidestep that is in for a rude awakening in the primary."
Elena Rodriguez, 38, teacher (Phoenix, AZ): "As a Democrat, I'm tired of us being reactive. Yes, Trump is a threat, but we need a positive vision for healthcare, education, and climate. If all we do is run *against* him, we're letting him set the agenda again."
David Chen, 41, software engineer (Austin, TX): "The 'mainstream' finding is fascinating. It suggests the Democratic brand has managed to frame its policies as more normative, even on contentious issues. That's a powerful advantage heading into a general election, if they can get past their own internal fights first."
Rebecca "Beck" O'Sullivan, 60, retired (Tampa, FL): "This is infuriating. It's all political theater. The Democrats are obsessed with a man who isn't even President, and the Republicans are lining up to kiss his ring. Meanwhile, neither party gives a damn about the middle class. They're both extreme, and they both serve the wealthy. The whole system is broken."
Looking ahead, more voters currently say they'd prefer to see Democrats control Congress next year than Republicans. But with the primary season just beginning, and the shadow of Trump looming large over both parties, the political landscape remains highly volatile.
This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,264 U.S. adults interviewed between February 25-27, 2026. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to gender, age, race, and education, based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ±2.5 points.