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November 13 Capitol Pulse Results: Congress Blames the Economy for GOP Losses, Expects Jeffries to Become Speaker, and Isn’t Ready to Hand Vacation Planning to AI
The midterms may be over, but Congress is already looking ahead to the political and legislative battles that come next. This week’s Capitol Pulse survey finds that the economy narrowly tops Iran as the leading explanation for the GOP’s midterm losses, while respondents are skeptical that the lame-duck session will accomplish much. A large majority expects Hakeem Jeffries to become the next Speaker of the House, but Congress is nearly split on whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face removal through impeachment. And when it comes to letting artificial intelligence plan a vacation, most respondents are willing to take recommendations—but not quite ready to hand over the keys.
Congress says the economy, not Iran, was the biggest reason for GOP losses
- Economy
- Iran
- Other
View data table
| Group | Economy | Iran | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 50.48% | 41.36% | 8.16% |
| Democrats | 64.71% | 26.47% | 8.82% |
| Republicans | 36.25% | 56.25% | 7.50% |
Asked what drove the GOP’s midterm losses, Congress points to the economy as the leading factor , with 50.48% selecting it. Iran came close behind at 41.36% , while 8.16% chose another reason.
The partisan divide is notable. Among Republican respondents, 56.25% blame Iran , compared with 36.25% who point to the economy. Democrats see it differently: 64.71% identify the economy as the main reason for the GOP’s losses, while 26.47% choose Iran.
The overall results put economic concerns slightly ahead, but the party breakdown shows that Congress does not share one explanation for what went wrong for Republicans at the ballot box.
Congress expects a largely unproductive lame-duck session
- Very productive
- Somewhat productive
- Not productive
View data table
| Group | Very productive | Somewhat productive | Not productive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 4.71% | 39.52% | 55.77% |
| Democrats | 5.71% | 45.71% | 48.57% |
| Republicans | 3.70% | 33.33% | 62.96% |
Congress is not especially optimistic about what lawmakers will accomplish before the next session. More than half of respondents (55.77%) do not expect the lame-duck session to be productive. Another 39.52% expect it to be somewhat productive, while just 4.71% anticipate a very productive session.
Republicans are particularly pessimistic: 62.96% do not expect the session to be productive , compared with 48.57% of Democrats. Nearly half of Democratic respondents (45.71%) expect it to be somewhat productive, while one-third of Republicans (33.33%) share that view.
With only a small share expecting significant results, Congress appears to be approaching the lame-duck stretch with modest expectations.
Congress overwhelmingly expects Hakeem Jeffries to become the next Speaker
- Yes
- No
View data table
| Group | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 82.51% | 17.49% |
| Democrats | 92.11% | 7.89% |
| Republicans | 72.92% | 27.08% |
Despite the partisan divide on many political questions, respondents largely agree on who will lead the House next. More than 82% (82.51%) expect Hakeem Jeffries to become the next Speaker , while 17.49% say he will not.
That expectation extends across party lines. Among Democrats, 92.11% expect Jeffries to take the gavel. Republicans are also more likely to predict a Jeffries speakership, with 72.92% saying he will become Speaker and 27.08% saying he will not.
The results suggest that even Republican respondents largely anticipate a change in House leadership, rather than a continuation of GOP control of the chamber.
Congress is nearly split on whether Pete Hegseth will be impeached
- Yes
- No
View data table
| Group | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Congress | 49.43% | 50.57% |
| Democrats | 62.50% | 37.50% |
| Republicans | 36.36% | 63.64% |
Asked whether Pete Hegseth will be removed from office through impeachment during the administration, Congress offers no clear consensus. A narrow majority (50.57%) say it will not happen , while 49.43% expect it will.
The party breakdown reveals a sharper divide. Among Democrats, 62.50% expect Hegseth to be impeached and removed , compared with 36.36% of Republicans. Among Republican respondents, 63.64% do not expect it to happen.
The overall result is about as close as it gets, with Congress nearly evenly divided over Hegseth’s political future. The question measures expectations about a possible outcome, not support for impeachment itself.
Congress will let AI help plan a vacation—but wants a human in charge
- Yes, but I’d double-check
- Only for recommendations
- No, I’ll plan it myself
View data table
| Group | Yes, but I’d double-check | Only for recommendations | No, I’ll plan it myself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congress | 25.18% | 49.87% | 24.96% |
| Democrats | 27.78% | 41.67% | 30.56% |
| Republicans | 22.58% | 58.06% | 19.35% |
Congress is more open to using AI as a travel assistant than as a full-service vacation planner. Nearly half of respondents (49.87%) say they would trust AI to make recommendations only. Another 25.18% would use AI but double-check its work, while 24.96% would rather plan the trip themselves.
The party breakdown shows a similar preference for keeping some human oversight. Among Republicans, 58.06% would use AI only for recommendations , while 22.58% would use it but double-check the results and 19.35% would plan the vacation themselves. Democrats are somewhat more cautious: 41.67% would use AI for recommendations, 27.78% would double-check its work, and 30.56% would rather plan their own trip.
So while Congress is willing to let AI suggest destinations and activities, most respondents are not ready to trust it with the entire vacation . Even in the age of artificial intelligence, somebody still wants to check the itinerary.
This week’s results show Congress looking back at the midterms and ahead to a new political landscape. Respondents point to the economy as the biggest reason for Republican losses, expect little from the lame-duck session, and broadly anticipate Hakeem Jeffries becoming Speaker. But on Hegseth’s future, Congress is almost perfectly divided—and when it comes to vacation planning, AI can make the recommendations, but humans still want the final say.