Here are four factors to consider as the 2026 midterm elections unfold. President Donald Trump and Republicans won a comfortable 2024 election by promising to curb inflation and the rising costs of goods and services, including groceries, gas and housing.

Democrats face an uphill battle to recapture a U.S. Senate majority in the November 2026 midterm elections, as Republicans are defending just two seats seen as competitive by nonpartisan analysts and hold a 53-47 majority.

In his first Truth Social post commenting on the election results, Trump suggested that the reasons why Democrats won is because he was not on the ballot and because of the government shutdown. Trump has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.

Off-year races in Virginia, New Jersey, California and beyond are seen as key early barometers of how voters are feeling about Trump and Democrats.

U.S. politicians and interest groups reacted to Democratic wins in a trio of races on Tuesday, the first major elections since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, giving the embattled party new momentum ahead of next year’s congressional midterms.

One rebuttal to affordability discourse, lobbed by economists Alex Tabarrok and Jeremy Horpedahl, has been to cite data that reminds us that the middle class is disappearing as one-third of U.S. families now earn over $150,000.

A Latin American strongman accused of drug trafficking and rigging elections openly defies the White House despite threats of military action.

Republican Lucas Loftin is launching his campaign for Iowa Senate District 16 ahead of the December 30 special election.