If you listen to many of the pundits, which you absolutely should never do, the midterms are going to be a disaster for the Republican Party. Podcasters and influencers, not to mention the legacy media, will point to polls indicating DOOOOOOM for conservatives in 2026.
The problem is, as independent pollster Patrick Ruffini recently revealed in a deep-dive investigation, summer polls are tremendously biased in favor of Democrats.
But now that summer is ending, we might get a more realistic glimpse of how the races are shaping up as Republicans begin to fight back in earnest.
In Michigan, John James just obliterated his gubernatorial opponent, Jocelyn Benson, simply by pointing out that she is campaigning with extremists who believe America deserved 9/11.
Even in deep blue Minnesota, voters might have had enough of Tim Walz and his lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, who embraces political violence and trans violence, celebrates abortions, and believes parents should be stripped of their children if they don't "affirm" their gender delusions.
And that's not even counting all the fraud.
Flanagan is facing former sportscaster Michele Tafoya for Minnesota's open Senate seat, and Tafoya has been working hard to point out Flanagan's record. She recently debuted a simple five-second ad, based on the new foldable iPhone, reminding voters which administration Flanagan serves in.
The photo Peggy Flanagan doesn’t want you to see. pic.twitter.com/sviV8vPkUj
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) September 10, 2026
OUCH!
We're sure Flanagan wants to keep that phone folded.
Recommended
Even better was Tafoya's full ad, recounting all of the fraud that Flanagan oversaw with Governor Tim Walz and stating that the lieutenant governor deserves a pink slip, not a promotion.
Peggy Flanagan wasn’t a bystander.
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) September 10, 2026
She was second in command of an administration that ignored warning signs, failed to protect taxpayer dollars, and allowed massive fraud to flourish on its watch.
Peggy Flanagan does not deserve a promotion. She deserves a pink slip. pic.twitter.com/VosDzTvpYG
These are great ads (we can only hope there's one coming soon featuring a "Quality Learing Center"), but the proof is in the pudding.
Now that we're past Labor Day and polls start getting more realistic, even in far-left Minnesota, that pudding says this race is going to be a nail-biter.
🚨 Folks, our race is wide open!
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) September 10, 2026
Peggy Flanagan cannot hide from her record.
Minnesotans deserve accountability, not another career politician who wants a promotion after years of failed leadership.
Let’s win this! pic.twitter.com/4bAt11iQAW
Minnesota hasn't elected a Republican Senator in more than a generation — Norm Coleman in 2003, and that was only because of Paul Wellstone's tragic death in a plane crash.
But the tied race reflects how bad the Walz-Flanagan administration has been, not to mention departing Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor.
I heard she is backed by Satan. pic.twitter.com/04QdrBJHsi
— Ole (@RogueOle) September 10, 2026
Well, George Soros, but that's pretty much the same thing.
— CatBee (@Catbendzick) September 11, 2026
Flanagan is nothing more than Walz 2.0, or worse. For this voter, I am voting Tafoya. Fed up with the decline of my state. Violent crime, epic fraud, mass migration, taxes, keeping men out of girls sports and spaces, and improving education (not indoctrination) in our failing…
— KJ (@SnayburtJames) September 10, 2026
As hard as it is to believe, it's true. Flanagan IS worse than Walz. By an order of magnitude.
We need change, we need an outsider like Tafoya. All the Dems in power are corrupt AF pic.twitter.com/BmsnAwQl6h
— Mpls Homestead (@pjewles) September 10, 2026
They were ALL in on it.
Even if they all don't get the prison sentences they deserve, at least they can be ousted from elected office.
There shouldn't be a close race with Michele & Peggy. No intelligent person should consider voting for Peggy Flanagan.
— Minnesota Staff Fraud Reporting Commentary (@Minnesota_DHS) September 10, 2026
Peggy oversaw the biggest fraud scandals in USA & retaliated against whistleblowers
Peggy's feckless disregard for Minnesota should speak for itself in polls https://t.co/xTKmlTC3Vt
In 2024, Flanagan referred to whistleblowers exposing fraud in her state as "weirdos and losers in moms' basements."
We get the feeling Nick Shirley and James O'Keefe took that personally, as they exposed billions in rampant fraud and corruption under Flanagan's watch over the ensuing year and a half.
Minnesota, if you are tired of the past and present, change it for the better with Michele Tafoya. This is your chance. https://t.co/UkI1koI10p
— Dr. MJL (@mjlpubs) September 10, 2026
As the great Steve Winwood once sang, "When you see your chance, take it."
It's all on you, Minnesota.
The state's voting history means it's still an uphill battle for Tafoya. But that hill is not insurmountable.
Minnesota is in play.
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) September 10, 2026
Peggy Flanagan had her chance.
The result? Billions in fraud, higher taxes, and a government that failed to protect taxpayers.
She was second-in-command while these failures happened. Now she wants a promotion to the U.S. Senate.
Minnesota deserves a… pic.twitter.com/qy9WBPENAj
Don’t let anyone tell you Minnesota is not in play.
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) September 10, 2026
Peggy Flanagan is another far-left, DSA-aligned Democrat who has spent years pushing the same big-government policies that have failed Minnesota.
Now she wants to take that record to Washington and vote for even more socialist… pic.twitter.com/BxjxNetMLk
... policies.
We will not let that happen.
As of now, there is no debate scheduled between Tafoya and Flanagan. Probably because Flanagan wants to run away from her record faster than Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson.
Based on her recent ads, however, Tafoya isn't going to let that happen, either.
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Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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