The results of the 2026 midterm elections aren’t fully in yet but my predictions about them appear to have been directionally right with Democrats winning majorities in both houses of Congress. As of this writing I may have underestimated the anger across the country at Trump since the Democratic majorities in each house appears to be somewhat larger than I predicted. It does, indeed, appear to have been a “wave election”.
Here in Chicago I am gratified That Jessica Biggs won her election as president of the Chicago School Board over the candidate preferred by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
So far the best comment I have found about the elections was from WSJ columnist Joseph Sternberg at about 11:30pm last night:
As the dominoes keep falling for Democrats, there’s a lot of talk tonight about the end of President Trump’s policy-political project, to the extent there was a coherent one, and fair enough. Republicans are getting punished because Mr. Trump keeps tripping over himself on the economy (tariffs, anyone?) and struggles to explain himself even when he’s right (Iran).
But the Ohio governor’s race marks a rebuke for the Trump political method, too. Vivek Ramaswamy’s loss can be attributed in part to that late campaign ad — yes, that one. Many voters appear to have ruled it out of bounds. While politics have gotten coarser in the Trump era, maybe there are still some limits after all.
With the elections over the question before us will be what will the Democrats do with their majorities? As I said in the post linked above I think that investigations and possibly impeachments of President Trump and his cabinet officers will prove irresistible to the new Congress. We will see.
I agree on the investigations. I doubt we get 8 investigations on the same issue like we did with Benghazi but the Trump family is getting richer and there have been questionable pardons and actions by DOJ. Not as certain on impeachment as it’s clear they cant win a Senate vote. Otherwise, I dont think there is much they can do that is anything but symbolic other than stopping some judicial nominees.
Steve
At least around here practically every Democrat running for any office was running against Trump without much of a platform otherwise. If impeachment is what you can do, you do it.
Our local elections were more locally focused for the most part with a few TV and radio ads totally focused on national stuff unless you want to say affordability was an attack on Trump. Almost every Dem took a shot at Trump but also talked about local issues. It was interesting that in the written material I looked at there was a lot more focus on local stuff and negative stuff about their opponents. Good, old fashioned politics.
Steve
What I mean by “running against Trump” is that every campaign ad included the words “I’ll fight Trump” or something to that effect, naming him specifically.
Trump should be proud of his accomplishment. It takes a lot to turn Texas blue.
Trump keeps finding ways to move the overton window.
At this point, you have to consider Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin and North Carolina as blue states, not purple states. Looks like South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisana are purple states.
Definitely moved the CW of American political analysis.
I believe Trump is at much higher risk of removal from office then is assumed. Trump is only 12 Republican senators away, and it wouldn’t take very much for them to turn on him.
I think this is much more about rejecting Trump and the results of his actions, like the Iran war, than people turning into Dems. I dont know how to predict how Republicans act after this loss. Post WW2 we have not a seen a single person have so much control and influence over one of our major parties, especially one with such bad character traits. I have never understood this reverence, practically worship, amongst so many. It persisted after his loss in 2020. I dont know if this breaks the spell or if they just revert to the claims that there were millions of illegal votes.
Steve