politics
CNN's Guide to the Most Important Elections of 2026
This year's midterms will not only shape the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency; they'll determine what politics after Trump might start to look like.
TL;DR
- The 2026 midterm elections will shape the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency and the future of politics after him.
- Primary and general election results will offer clues for the 2028 presidential race, the first without Trump on the ballot in 16 years.
- Key races across various states, including Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, will be closely watched.
- Democrats need a net gain of three seats in the House and four in the Senate to win control, facing challenging maps.
- Gubernatorial races and statewide contests for attorney general and secretary of state will also be significant, particularly in battleground states for 2028.