Explainer: The 2026 Midterm Election

On Nov. 3, the 2026 Midterm Election brought a major shift in the United States, as Democrats gained control over the House of Representatives and the Senate. These results represent a major setback for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, as Democrats will have greater influence over legislation and government oversight. 

Campaign signs in Downtown Cleveland.

Republicans currently control both chambers of congress. As of now, though, Democrats are set to have 54 out of 100 Senate seats and 256 out of 435 House seats.

The Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico gained much attention and resulted in a historical victory for Democrats. Talarico won, marking a major political shift in a state long dominated by Republicans. Talarico’s victory gave Democrats their first U.S. Senate win in Texas since 1988. 

Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become Georgia’s first female governor and the first Black woman to serve as governor in the United States.

Many Republicans did not anticipate the outcome of the election. Dissatisfaction with the economy and the conflict with Iran contributed largely to this loss.

Professor of Political Science Dr.Thomas Pope says the results of the midterms should not come as a big surprise.

“It isn’t unusual for the party of the incumbent president to lose ground in midterm elections,” Pope said.

This shift in congressional leadership will have significant consequences for the remainder of the Trump presidency. With Democrats controlling both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Republicans will face greater difficulty passing legislation. 

“Democrats will have greater influence over what legislation advances. This also means that the administration may also experience difficulties filling judicial appointments and executive positions … There is a risk that if a Democratic Congress is unable or unwilling to pass legislation that could withstand Presidential veto that we could see even more governance by Executive Orders, which has seen recent challenges in the Supreme Court,” Pope said.

Tennessee also experienced a closer than expected election. Tennessee has a reputation of being a red leaning state, but  Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Trump-endorsed candidate, won by just over 50,000 votes. This shows an increased support for democrats across Tennessee. 

The Bradley County Courthouse

“Even in Tennessee, a largely red state, we saw Democrats and Independents gaining significant ground … For reference, Republicans won the governorship by about 500,000 votes in 2022 and 2018, and by even more prior to that,” Pope said.

Ultimately, the 2026 midterm election reshaped the balance of power in Washington, DC.

“The open question is how both parties will respond to the apparent shift in public opinion,” Pope said. 

With Democrats controlling Congress and Republicans maintaining the presidency, the next two years could bring numerous political disagreements, legislative difficulties and increased attention to the upcoming presidential election.

Photos by Emme Lowder.