US Midterm Election Season Kicks Off

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs in this election cycle. Republicans entered the 2026 midterms with a slim majority in the House, holding 218 seats to the Democrats' 213, and a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. Historically, the party holding the White House faces an uphill battle in midterm elections. Since World War II, the president's party has lost an average of 26 seats in the House and four in the Senate. In the 20 midterm elections between 1946 and 2022, the president's party lost House seats in 18 of them. The president's approval rating is a key indicator of midterm outcomes. When a president's job approval is below 50%, their party has lost an average of 37 House seats. This compares to an average loss of only 14 seats when the president's approval is above 50%. Key issues shaping the 2026 campaigns include the economy, affordability, and immigration. Republican state lawmakers in Texas have also brought attention to election security, while some of the administration's tariff and immigration policies have faced scrutiny. Voter turnout in midterm elections is historically lower than in presidential years, with about 40% of eligible voters typically participating compared to 50-60% in presidential elections. However, the 2018 midterms saw the highest turnout since 1914 at 50%. The Texas primaries feature competitive races for the U.S. Senate and several U.S. House seats. The state's congressional maps were redrawn by Republican lawmakers, a process known as gerrymandering, which is expected to play a significant role in the House election outcomes. In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott is seeking a record fourth term. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa is a leading contender for the party's gubernatorial nomination. The race for attorney general is also highly contested, particularly in the Republican primary.