An early voting polling site at East Carolina University as North Carolina begins its midterm primary elections, in Greenville, N.C., on Feb. 12, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
Most forecasts of the 2026 midterms read like a straightforward Democratic victory lap. Trump’s approval is historically low. The economy is under strain from a war-driven spike in gas prices. Democrats are more motivated to vote than Republicans by a wide margin. The maps look favorable. Case closed, right?
David Schultz is Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Legal Studies at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
