ANALYSIS — With less than a year to go, the 2026 midterm elections are at a crossroads.
Emboldened by the 2024 election results that resulted in full GOP control of Washington, Republicans began the year on a political high, but it’s been rough going since then. President Donald Trump’s job ratings have slipped back into mediocrity, and Democrats have consistently overperformed in elections around the country.
It’s possible that voter sentiment will improve from a rebounding economy, helping Republicans narrowly salvage their majorities in Congress. But what’s more likely is the political environment gets worse for the GOP, allowing Democrats to experience sizable midterm gains.
