In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson delivers a detailed post-election breakdown of the 2026 midterms, examining exit poll data, demographic movement, voter dissatisfaction, Trump's approval numbers, the political impact of the Iran conflict, shifting support among young and Hispanic voters, and the lessons Republicans must learn if they hope to rebuild the coalition that powered Trump's 2024 victory.

Republicans suffered major setbacks in the 2026 midterm elections, but what actually drove voters to the polls? Ben Ferguson dives into exit poll data, voter trends, and demographic shifts to identify the key reasons behind the GOP's losses and what conservatives must learn before 2028. According to the polling and post-election analysis discussed in this episode, concerns about affordability, rising costs, and economic insecurity overwhelmingly shaped voter behavior. Voters who once backed Donald Trump and Republican candidates shifted away from the party after concluding that their economic concerns were not being addressed. Ferguson also argues that the conflict with Iran amplified those worries by linking foreign policy decisions to household financial pressure, especially gas prices and cost-of-living concerns. 

Topics Covered:
Exit poll findings on affordability, inflation, and cost-of-living concerns
How the Iran conflict became tied to voter economic anxiety
Major demographic shifts among young voters, Latino voters, suburban voters, and independents
The relationship between Donald Trump's approval ratings and down-ballot Republican losses
Comparisons between the 2026 Republican losses and the Democrats' 2010 midterm defeat
Why retaining Trump-era swing voters requires ongoing engagement and delivery on policy promises

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson delivers a detailed post-election breakdown of the 2026 midterms, examining exit poll data, demographic movement, voter dissatisfaction, Trump's approval numbers, the political impact of the Iran conflict, shifting support among young and Hispanic voters, and the lessons Republicans must learn if they hope to rebuild the coalition that powered Trump's 2024 victory.
Republicans suffered major setbacks in the 2026 midterm elections, but what actually drove voters to the polls? Ben Ferguson dives into exit poll data, voter trends, and demographic shifts to identify the key reasons behind the GOP's losses and what conservatives must learn before 2028. According to the polling and post-election analysis discussed in this episode, concerns about affordability, rising costs, and economic insecurity overwhelmingly shaped voter behavior. Voters who once backed Donald Trump and Republican candidates shifted away from the party after concluding that their economic concerns were not being addressed. Ferguson also argues that the conflict with Iran amplified those worries by linking foreign policy decisions to household financial pressure, especially gas prices and cost-of-living concerns.&nbsp;
Topics Covered:
<ul>
<li>Exit poll findings on affordability, inflation, and cost-of-living concerns</li>
<li>How the Iran conflict became tied to voter economic anxiety</li>
<li>Major demographic shifts among young voters, Latino voters, suburban voters, and independents</li>
<li>The relationship between Donald Trump's approval ratings and down-ballot Republican losses</li>
<li>Comparisons between the 2026 Republican losses and the Democrats' 2010 midterm defeat</li>
<li>Why retaining Trump-era swing voters requires ongoing engagement and delivery on policy promises</li>
</ul>
Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-47-morning-update-wit-258481252/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson</a> and <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-ben-ferguson-podcast%2Fid1386375601&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobertoDiaz%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd55f297ce8824f6f31a808dddbf7fab7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638908580290104132%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=RRil7WRhuVH0YkqvMtYlSMRSI71cvsxmUy24iRBm1e8%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="6">The Ben Ferguson Show</a> Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening
YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40VerdictwithTedCruz%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobertoDiaz%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd55f297ce8824f6f31a808dddbf7fab7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638908580290122821%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3fo08NMwfFSPoUyddyh3l8wtDuRi50hvzaET6sggVLw%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="7">https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/</a>
Facebook: <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fverdictwithtedcruz&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobertoDiaz%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd55f297ce8824f6f31a808dddbf7fab7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638908580290141425%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BXK2L1yrR8bmW7H3eLIkZLtG87TTP6YPUSPVv4wFWF8%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="8">https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz</a>
X:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Ftedcruz&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobertoDiaz%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd55f297ce8824f6f31a808dddbf7fab7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638908580290159867%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jrwx6s7nfCMIA1o4itHy6t2Zzw9pwzf5v%2FkilDytM4g%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="9">https://x.com/tedcruz</a>
X:&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fbenfergusonshow&amp;data=05%7C02%7CRobertoDiaz%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd55f297ce8824f6f31a808dddbf7fab7%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638908580290178175%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=toMizYItYEpQnaEde%2BnCLJEal7XzVD%2BzvBtrHUIgbc4%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="10">https://x.com/benfergusonshow</a>

Join Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson as they break down the most important news stories of the day and reveal what they mean for you. On "Verdict with Ted Cruz,” you will go behind the scenes of the political debates that define our country. "Verdict with Ted Cruz" is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2022, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.

Join Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson as they break down the most important news stories of the day and reveal what they mean for you. On "Verdict with Ted Cruz,&rdquo; you will go behind the scenes of the political debates that define our country. "Verdict with Ted Cruz" is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2022, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.

Verdict with Ted Cruz

Join Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson as they break down the most important news stories of the day and reveal what they mean for you. On "Verdict with Ted Cruz,&rdquo; you will go behind the scenes of the political debates that define our country. "Verdict with Ted Cruz" is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2022, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.

Election Disaster: How We Rebuild 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3ee4940f-a2b9-4f86-8b8d-b4f2004f3425/transcript