Voters in the 2026 midterm elections have the opportunity to weigh in on the country’s direction two years into President Donald Trump’s second term. Republicans currently control Congress, but Democrats hope the president’s weak approval rating and a gloomy national mood will help them win majorities.
Trump enters the election with his approval near its lowest level ever, according to the report. His standing has been weighed down by the unpopular war in Iran and consumer prices rising faster than wages, leaving many Americans struggling to afford basic needs.
Historical trends offer Democrats a reason for optimism: from 1934 to 2022, the party holding the White House lost an average of 27 House seats and three Senate seats in midterm elections, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Strategists from both parties say Democrats are likely to regain control of the 435-seat House, which would give them a check on the Trump administration. The contest for the 100-seat Senate is less clear. Both parties view it as a tossup, while recent polling has encouraged Democrats.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.