Republicans have started to worry as pre-election polls indicate the upcoming elections could be tough for them. Although they are still presumed to keep the Senate, swing-states are looking more challenging to win, and the usual Republican safe zones are surprisingly being contested. Democrats are gaining momentum, which is causing anxiety among the White House and top GOP members.

The issue that Republicans face for this election is that the positions on issues that helped them win many 2016 polls no longer resonate with current voters. President Donald Trump’s ubiquitous and heavy emphasis on reviving the economy was a major factor in  his win of the White House. Political studies repeatedly show that a populace satisfied with its economy would be satisfied with its government. Most polls show that Americans are currently satisfied with the state of the economy, which is usually a great sign for an incumbent president and party. However, the economy does not seem to currently be the main focus for voters. What seems to be driving the voters in these midterms is their feelings towards the President and Republicans.

President Donald Trump is currently sitting at a 40.1 percent approval rating. That forebodes poorly for the election, as even though the economy is doing well, the mayhem surrounding his presidency is leaving a decent amount of Republican voters disillusioned. Additionally, the recent allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are also likely to set the President and his agenda back for these elections.

According to Associated Press reports, it seems the President has insiders trying to calm anxieties about the situation. After all, President Trump won in 2016 when every major pollster predicted a victory for Hillary Clinton. Plus the President has begun to capitalize on a new strategy for the campaigns. The GOP warns that a Democratic majority could lead to the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and increased spending on health care, which falls outside the Republican majority on those issues.

The GOP should be worried for the upcoming elections; Democrats are energized and motivated compared to Republicans. It is easier to campaign against the status quo than it is to campaign for no change. The President can point to his upset election, but it was a massive statistical anomaly. It is unlikely that the Republicans will lose all of Congress, but it very likely that Democrats will gain the house. Incumbency will not serve as an advantage for this election cycle. It will be interesting to see how Republicans plan to organize around it.