The 2026 midterm elections

From control of Congress to statehouse battles, the 2026 midterms will have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power and the policy agenda of the United States. In this year-long series, Brookings scholars assess the dynamics of the campaign season, the strategies of candidates and parties, the opinions of voters, and the broader implications for democracy, governance, and leadership in America.

People stand behind privacy booths as they fill out their ballots before casting their early vote at the Queensborough Elks Lodge No. 878, in the Queens borough of New York City, NY. Source: REUTERS/Anthony Behar/Sipa USA

Abagail Spanberger During the Norfolk State University Football Tailgate on Aug. 28, 2025.

Campaigns & Elections What this fall’s elections can—and can’t—teach us about the midterms

E.J. Dionne, Jr., Max Keeney, Adelle Patten

October 2, 2025

Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) arrives to the U.S. Capitol during the last votes of the week on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Campaigns & Elections Assessing the role of candidate quality in the 2026 midterms

Elaine Kamarck

September 25, 2025

As Americans head to the polls to vote in the 2022 midterm elections, voters trickle into the Alexandria Fire Department Headquarters Station Number 4 in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

U.S. Government & Politics What history tells us about the 2026 midterm elections

William A. Galston

August 28, 2025