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Democrats Aim for Both Chambers in Midterm Elections
· Confirmed
In Short: Democrats are eyeing both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, with the House of Representatives currently controlled by Republicans with a narrow majority of 218 seats, plus one independent who votes with them.
The Cook Political Report suggests that only 21 districts are toss-ups, potentially winnable by either party, highlighting the tight race.
President Donald Trump's low approval ratings and the ongoing cost of living crisis are factors that could benefit Democrats in their bid to win both chambers.
In his campaign, Trump promised to 'end inflation and make America affordable again,' but the cost of living remains a key issue for voters.
The main focus for voters will be electing members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the two chambers that make up Congress.
Historically, the sitting president has lost control of the House in midterm elections but retained the Senate.
Both chambers are currently controlled by Republicans, the president's party.
At a GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Trump pledged to issue a $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen if Republicans win both chambers, a promise that would cost over $1 trillion.
A key national pro-life group plans to spend $160 million in the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election cycles to elect its preferred candidates.
Democrats need to gain four seats to retake the Senate, which currently has 100 members.
In New Hampshire, Republicans view the open Democrat-held Senate seat as a top flip opportunity to maintain their slim majority.
The Senate race in New Hampshire is crucial, as it may determine if Republicans keep control of the chamber.
Trump's approval rating began his second term at just over 50%, but it has since fallen into the 40s.
What this adds
Democrats are aiming to win both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
A key national pro-life group plans to spend $160 million in the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election cycles to elect its preferred candidates.
Background
Democrats are aiming to win both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
What's confirmed
- "If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them," the president told attendees at the GOP's first midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, "I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000."
- What he called the “Trump Dividend” would carry an estimated cost of more than $1 trillion for the government, even excluding the administrative expenses involved, and most remain skeptical that the president can finance the checks in the event of a two-chamber Republican victory.
- Trump made the promise of a so-called “Trump dividend” at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night.
- Republicans haven't won a Senate election in New Hampshire in 16 years, but they view the open Democrat-held seat as a top flip opportunity in the fight to hold their slim majority in the midterm elections.
- Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pappas said, "I think Netanyahu's being incredibly reckless right now. He faces voters in a matter of weeks and could lose his election. And I think that would be important to set a new tone for the U.S.-Israel relationship."
What's still developing
- The current Republican majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, is as thin as it gets - they have 218 representatives, which is the exact number needed to have control, plus one independent who votes with them.
- But Trump's poor ratings help explain why Democrats are hopeful of winning both chambers of Congress and why they are setting their sights on states that Republicans have won consistently in recent years.
- But in presidential elections it is one of the crucial swing states - Michigan voted for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 but Trump in 2024.
- "Whatever happens tonight, we have a responsibility to ensure that we unite, unite to make sure that [Republican] Mike Rogers never sees the inside of the US Senate." The open Senate seat is almost a must-win for Democrats if they want to take control of Congress's upper chamber and try to thwart Trump's agenda.
- Trump last week said he’d be heading out on the campaign trail to help fellow Republicans running in the midterms.
- The reality is that the House and Senate don’t have a lot on the fall agenda they absolutely must do before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, especially with President Donald Trump having already signed into law a continuing resolution funding the government through Dec. 11.
- 30 — election year politics — as Democrats blocked the plan just before senators headed home for the November midterm campaign.
- "Let's rise above the politics that often drag this place down and deliver for the American people." But Democrats were in no mood to hand Husted a legislative victory just before the midterms, as they ridiculed his bill, calling it toothless — arguing the plan was just a feel-good measure designed to boost Husted's election chances in November.
- Dannenfelser said Cassidy, who is facing a Trump-backed primary challenger, Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., “deserves all of our support” in his primary, which is scheduled for May 16.
- “I sense that this administration during these two years hasn’t quite met expectations that the Latino community had as far as GDP growth and bringing down inflation to you know 2% or less,” Daniel Garza, president of the LIBRE Initiative, told the Washington Examiner.
- “When people tell you who they are, believe them. When Hasan Piker says America deserved 9/11, believe him,” said Cruz.
- "If we hand America's future to the radical-left Democrats, our nation will spend the next decade just getting back on its feet," Trump said.