The GOP won a ton of momentum in 2024. They can’t give up the advantage.
And now Republicans risk losing the midterms if they don’t take this threat seriously.
A recent poll indicates that Republican voter turnout in the 2026 midterms could be significantly affected if the Trump administration does not prioritize pro-life issues, highlighting ongoing tensions within the party on abortion-related policies.
The survey, conducted by GOP polling firm Cygnal, underscores concerns among the base regarding federal actions on abortion drugs and other protections, amid a backdrop of increasing abortion numbers post-Roe v. Wade and debates over regulatory changes.
Key Poll Results on Pro-Life Priorities
The nationwide Cygnal survey, conducted February 8-10 among 1,000 likely Republican primary voters with a 3.10% margin of error, found that nearly a third of respondents would feel less enthusiastic about the midterms if GOP leaders abandon pro-life policies.
Specifically, 37% of the “most engaged” GOP voters and 45% of evangelicals indicated they would be less likely to volunteer in general election campaigns under such circumstances.
Additionally, 71% of Republican voters oppose the Department of Health and Human Services’ continuation of rules allowing the abortion drug mifepristone to be prescribed online and mailed without in-person consultations.
The poll also revealed that 79% consider the Hyde Amendment—which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions—important, with 30% saying they would be less enthusiastic to vote if support for it were dropped.
Furthermore, most Republicans are unaware that abortions have increased since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, but 73% expressed concern upon learning that annual abortions rose to 1.1 million, as reported by the WeCount project in 2024.
Federal Actions and Criticisms on Abortion Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has faced scrutiny for approving a new generic abortion pill manufacturer, Evita Solutions, in September and for not yet completing a promised safety study on mifepristone, while maintaining Biden-era mail-order rules.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, after a February 11 briefing with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, stated: “I think that this safety study is a dead end. I just think that FDA is not serious about it. I don’t think that they’re proceeding with any sense of urgency whatsoever. If they’re really proceeding at all. I frankly, can’t tell.”
A Daily Caller News Foundation investigation showed that individuals can order the abortion pill online “for future use” without doctor verification of eligibility. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser, during a Thursday press call, noted that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could “immediately change” the situation by reinstating in-person dispensing requirements, adding: “You cannot win without your base. The abortion drug problem is an electoral problem in addition to a moral problem in our nation.”
A survey memo emphasized: “Republican voters likely expected that Dobbs would lead to fewer abortions and certainly expected that the leaders around President Trump would work hard to extend pro-life protections everywhere possible in the federal government. Instead, under Secretary Kennedy, HHS is actively facilitating access to the chemical abortion drug mifepristone.”
Louisiana’s lawsuit against the FDA highlights increased abortions in the state post-approval of mail-order access, from 3,805 in 2020 to 4,180 in 2023, while the Trump Department of Justice has urged a federal judge to pause the case during the FDA review.
Administration Responses and Midterm Context
In January, ahead of the March for Life, the administration announced measures including ending funding for fetal tissue research, expanding the Mexico City policy to restrict foreign aid promoting abortion, and investigating Planned Parenthood’s receipt of over $88 million in COVID-19 loans.
President Trump suggested flexibility on the Hyde Amendment, prompting clarification from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: Trump “signed an executive order protecting the Hyde Amendment” and “has taken multiple actions on various fronts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not funding the practice of abortion.”
Vice President J.D. Vance addressed pro-life concerns at the March for Life, saying he hears them and “understand[s] there will inevitably be debates within this movement,” adding: “We love each other, and we’re going to have open conversations about how best to use our political system to advance life, how prudential we must be in the cause of advancing human life. I think these are good, honest and natural debates. And frankly, they’re not just good for all of you. They help keep people like me honest, and that’s an important thing.”
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated: “Trump is the most pro-life and pro-family President in history. Thanks to the President’s appointments to the United States Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade was correctly overturned – a triumphant victory for life. The President has also enforced the Hyde Amendment and reinstated the Mexico City Policy to end taxpayer-funded abortion at home and abroad, expanded child tax credits, created Trump Accounts, and established a rigorous, Gold Standard Science safety review of mifepristone by the FDA. President Trump and his entire administration will continue to boldly advance policies that protect the most vulnerable among us and promote the growth and success of America’s families.”
With nearly 10% of House lawmakers not seeking reelection—more Republicans than Democrats retiring—and the GOP holding a slim 218-213 majority, the poll suggests these issues could influence voter mobilization in the upcoming cycle.
