Midterm elections are on the agenda in 2026. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
"Typically there are headwinds in a midterm election," said Thune. "You can't convince people of something they don't feel."
Retirements by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Tina Smith, D-Minn., could create challenges for Democrats to hold those seats. Take, for example, why Republicans are spending so much time railing against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and the state’s welfare scandal and child care questions. This fuels optimism that Republicans can prevail in the Gopher State.
"President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It's a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign (NRSC) to colleague Paul Steinhauser.
Republicans hope that Democrats nominate controversial candidates.
HERE ARE THE KEY 2026 HOUSE AND SENATE RACES TO WATCH THAT COULD DECIDE CONTROL OF CONGRESS
"If I didn't know better, I would say that some of these folks are Republican plants. They're clearly from the loon wing of the Democratic Party," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., about some Democratic Senate hopefuls.
Republicans are rooting for a radioactive Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, to secure the Democratic nod over a more moderate Democrat James Talarico — to potentially face Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, for the Texas Senate race.
"They tell us that Texas is red. They are lying. We're not," said Crockett. "Y'all ain't never tried it the J.C. way."
Graham Platner is a Democratic populist in Maine. He hopes to face Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me. — if he’s able to defeat Gov. Janet Mills in the primary. Platner has a history of inflammatory posts online.
"The candidate for Senate in Maine for the Democrats calls me a Nazi, which is rich, coming from a guy who literally has a Nazi tattoo on his chest," said Vice President JD Vance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says Republicans are looking "forward to continuing all that work when we return in 2026, and we go into an epic midterm election cycle." (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Republicans tried to erect a political heat shield to deflect midterm norms. Republicans drew new, GOP-friendly districts in Texas and Missouri. But those districts are a lighter shade of red. That could dilute the GOP base vote as these districts as battlegrounds.
"We have to make sure that we've got an edge. This is a big deal, and we've gotta be politically smart. And I hate to say this, for a change," Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. said on Fox News Channel.
Democrats countered the Republican maneuvering with redistricting of their own. Particularly in California.
"Our focus is on the swing districts, the purple districts across the country," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). "It's why we expanded our map of offensive opportunities."
But it’s risky if Democrats run candidates who are too progressive for certain seats.
Democrats plan investigations and subpoenas of the Trump Administration if they win the House. One Democrat is eyeing the Pentagon.
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"When we take back the House in 2026, every single one of their actions is going to be under an MRI. We're going to evaluate them up against the laws of war. And they will be held accountable for violating those laws of war," Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., told ABC News.
But House control could hinge on the Supreme Court. Around 20 House seats could shift toward the GOP if the High Court unwinds part of the Voting Rights Act. That law gave Democrats an edge in multiple districts populated by minorities.
A ruling requiring new districts could drastically upset the balance of power for this year’s House contests.
Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/healthcare-economy-one-big-beautiful-bill-welcome-midterms