Fox News host Brian Kilmeade is urging Republicans to sharpen their message as the midterm elections approach, warning that Democrats appear to be gaining ground despite widespread criticism of their agenda.
Speaking Thursday on The Five, Kilmeade addressed what he described as a surprising trend since President Donald Trump returned to office. The conversation touched on a recent critique of the Democratic Party written by The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich, which painted a harsh picture of a party struggling with its own internal blind spots. While Kilmeade acknowledged those weaknesses, he cautioned that election results tell a more complicated story.
“No matter everything you said about land grabs, and Indians who really belong with this land, and all the stuff, the Democrats have flipped twenty-five state legislative seats, and the Republicans have flipped zero,” Kilmeade said.
The statistic, he argued, should serve as a wake-up call. While Republicans may take issue with Democratic messaging or policy priorities, Kilmeade stressed that results on the ground cannot be ignored.
“The numbers don’t lie,” he told his co-hosts.
Kilmeade urged Republicans to focus less on criticizing Democratic rhetoric and more on effectively communicating their own agenda. He acknowledged that many conservatives may find it hard to believe that Democrats are gaining momentum, but said the electoral shifts in state legislatures suggest the party is doing something that resonates with voters.
“As much as they are whining with pronouns, Republicans have to find a way to communicate that they are the better way,” Kilmeade said. “And they’ve got about seven or eight months to do it, because that group, as misguided as they seem and act, seems to be on a roll, which astounds me to say, but the numbers don’t lie.”
His warning reflects a broader concern among Republican leaders and commentators that the upcoming midterms could present challenges, particularly given historical trends and recent Democratic gains. Democrats achieved sweeping wins in elections last year, setting the stage for what could be a competitive cycle.
Kilmeade is not alone in raising red flags. Fellow Fox News host Laura Ingraham offered her own sobering outlook last November, telling viewers that “the midterms right now look ugly, unless the Republicans really get serious.” Her remarks underscored the sense among some conservatives that complacency could prove costly.
Prominent Republican voices have echoed similar concerns. Political strategist Karl Rove and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas have both warned that the political terrain heading into the midterms may be difficult for the GOP. Even President Trump has acknowledged the historical headwinds facing the party in power.
“If you go back a long way, the sitting president, whether it’s Democrat or Republican, always loses the midterm, even if they’ve done well,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity during a January interview. “Almost always.”
For Kilmeade, the path forward is clear: Republicans must refine their communication strategy and make a compelling case to voters in the months ahead. With roughly seven or eight months before the elections, he suggested there is still time — but not much — to counter Democratic momentum and avoid a setback at the ballot box.
