Mitch McConnell's re-election bid is gaining steam


Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) doesn't appear to be going anywhere.
After trailing or running dead even for months with Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes, McConnell posted a modest four-point edge over her in the latest PPP survey, released Tuesday. In the poll, McConnell led 44 percent to 40 percent, with seven percent going for Libertarian David Patterson. It's a marked turnaround from April when Grimes led 45 percent to 44 percent.
The primary reason for McConnell's surge: A consolidation of support from Republican voters. As PPP notes, McConnell held a 49-point edge among GOP voters in the last poll. But after McConnell handily thwarted a primary challenger in May, Republicans have since rallied around his campaign, boosting his edge with GOP voters to a healthy 67-point margin.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That rallying effect is why McConnell, despite his dismal approval rating and noted struggles in early polls, was still widely considered to be in relatively strong shape heading toward November. McConnell is a 77 percent favorite to win re-election per the New York Times' latest midterm forecast.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Sudoku medium: May 14, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Hamas frees US hostage in deal sidelining Israel
speed read Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier, was the final living US citizen held by the militant group
-
White Afrikaners land in US as Trump-declared refugees
speed read An exception was made to Trump's near-total ban on admitting refugees for the white South Africans
-
Qatar luxury jet gift clouds Trump trip to Mideast
speed read Qatar is said to be presenting Trump with a $400 million plane, which would be among the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the US government
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Trump, UK's Starmer outline first post-tariff deal
speed read President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer struck a 'historic' agreement to eliminate some of the former's imposed tariffs
-
Fed leaves rates unchanged as Powell warns on tariffs
speed read The Federal Reserve says the risks of higher inflation and unemployment are increasing under Trump's tariffs
-
Denmark to grill US envoy on Greenland spying report
speed read The Trump administration ramped up spying on Greenland, says reporting by The Wall Street Journal
-
Supreme Court allows transgender troop ban
speed read The US Supreme Court will let the Trump administration begin executing its ban on transgender military service members