Congressional Republicans looking to hold onto their slim majority next fall should extend the Obamacare tax credits that expire at the end of the year or face a greater likelihood of losing the House to Democrats, according to a survey from pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward.
"Republicans have an opportunity to overcome a current generic ballot deficit and take the lead by extending the healthcare premium tax credits for those who purchase health insurance for themselves," the survey indicated.
According to the survey, House Republicans in battleground districts specifically take a 6-point lead over Democrats, and reverse a 3-point deficit, on a generic ballot if they extend the Premium Tax Credit (PTC) into Fiscal Year 2026.
The GOP currently holds a 220 to 213 margin over Democrats in Congress. There are also three current vacancies, with special elections for those seats later this year.
That could make the margin even tighter.
"Unlike recent changes to Medicaid which do not go into effect until after the midterm elections, voters on the individual insurance marketplace, who voted for Trump by 4-points, will begin getting notices of significant premium hikes this fall," the survey indicated. "The incentive is to act on extending the tax credit soon. Republicans can position themselves ahead of Democrats in these districts by extending the premium tax credit.”
