'Huge sign' Republicans face a brewing 'hurricane' in the midterms flagged on CNN
Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha on CNN's "The Lead." (CNN screenshot)
September 29, 2026
A political expert flagged what he described as a "huge sign" that there is a brewing hurricane waiting for Republicans in the midterm elections.
Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist, joined CNN's "The Lead" with Jake Tapper to discuss the upcoming elections and recent public polling. Rocha noted another factor that shows Republicans might be in for more than they bargained for in November.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that the largest super PAC aligned with Democrats will begin spending money to support state lawmaker James Talarico in his bid against Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general who is backed by President Donald Trump. Rocha noted that was a "huge sign" of how much trouble Republicans are in.
"That's a huge sign," Rocha said. "Because there's only somuch money to go around, andwe're talking about Iowa and Ohio and Michigan, and all theseplaces."
"Let me put a little more meat onthat bone," he added, noting that Republicans have already spent about $160 million to support Paxton since Labor Day. "That's thecraziness about this. James Talarico, through the summer and through the early part of the fall, has been on TV by himself, building up a reputation of who he is without being unabated by any Republican. That's going to be the real tell: if all of this late money makes a difference when James Talarico has been outthere telling a message topeople."
Rocha also noted that the race showed how much trouble Republicans are in with Latino voters, many of whom previously supported Trump.
"I'm working in all of these southern congressional races where there are heavy Latino populations, and these same Latinos voted for Donald Trump two years ago," he said. "Well, they may be the mostpissed because they're the mostaffected by gas and dieselprices, and they happen to bemore middle class. So theconstruction industry andwhat's happening with ICE isall a perfect storm for thisLatino hurricane to hit Republicans in the mouth."