Midterm Congressional Elections Of 2026

Two “Independent” Senate Candidates In Nebraska And Montana Give Hope To Democrats!

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Presently, there are two Independents in the US Senate–Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Angus King of Maine, who both join the Democratic caucus.

In the upcoming Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, two strongly Republican states have Independents running who give hope to Democrats that if they were able to be elected, they would clearly join the Democratic caucus, while reserving their independence as Sanders and King have done for many years.

These are Dan Osborn, age 51, in Nebraska, and Seth Bodnar, age 47, in Montana, and if either were to win the Senate seats in their states, it would insure that Democrats would control the Senate majority with their help and support on most issues.

This, along with the many potential Democratic Senate candidates who are in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s, would make the US Senate vastly younger in membership for the near future.

Osborn is a US Navy veteran, industrial mechanic, former labor union leader, who challenged incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in 2024, losing by only 7 points, in a race no one thought would be anywhere near that close.

Osborn is now challenging Senator Pete Ricketts, former Governor, who is finishing out the term of former Senator Ben Sasse, who resigned in 2023. Osborn is running as a “rugged guy”, portrayed in similar terms as Graham Platner, who is running for the Maine Senate seat race as a Democrat against Maine Governor Janet Mills, for the opportunity to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Osborn is running on a populist platform, promoting small businesses, family farmers, and workers, and the Democrats, who have not run candidates in recent times in Nebraska, decided they would support him informally, and not have a Democrat in the race. Early indications show a nip and tuck race in polls, so Osborn just might win as an Independent, and bring relative youth to the Senate.

In Montana, Seth Bodnar, age 47, former President of the University of Montana, is running as an Independent, with no strong Democratic opponent for what will be an open seat, as Republican Senator Steve Daines decided not to run for reelection, and endorsed former US Attorney Kurt Alme minutes before the primary deadline.

Bodnar is a US Military Academy graduate who served in Iraq, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. He was encouraged to run as an Independent by former Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
So there is a reasonable chance that Bodner could win the Senate race as an Independent, but with leanings toward the Democratic Party agenda, and would likely join the Democratic caucus in the Senate as an Independent.

Potential For Up To 10 New Young Democrats In US Senate

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The odds are growing that a new generation of young Democrats could end up creating a “youth movement” in the US Senate if they can win seats in this fall’s midterm elections.

If good fortune were to occur, there is the potential of up to 10 new young US Senators, beginning with James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, and only 36 years old.

Others in their 30s are Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls (34) and Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow (39).

Those candidates in their 40s include Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (41) and Michigan Senate candidate Abu El-Sayed (41); Michigan Senate candidate Haley Stevens (42); New Hampshire Senate candidate Chris Pappas (45); Minnesota Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan (46); Massachusetts Senate candidate Seth Moulton (47) and Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek (47).

Those candidates in the early 50s include Florida Senate candidate Alexander Vindman (50) and Kentucky Senate candidate Amy McGrath (50); Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola (52); and Minnesota Senate candidate Angie Craig (54).

Second Highest Number Of Republican Congressional Retirements Since 1930, Only Surpassed In 2018!

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The Republican Party in the US House of Representatives is in crisis mode, as they are on the way to what is likely to be massive losses in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026.

THe fact that 2026 is witnessing the second highest number of Republican members of the House of Representatives choosing NOT to run for reelection, only surpassed in the past hundred years in 2018, which saw a loss of 40 House seats, is a sign of the dire straits the party faces under the unpopular policies of Donald Trump.

44 Republicans chose not to run in 2018, and now in 2026, 39 have decided not to run for reelection, or run for a Senate seat or Governorship instead.

119th Congress So Far Most Unaccomplished Congress Since World War II!

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The 119th Congress, in its first year, has accomplished the worst record of any Congress, since records were kept since World War II.

One cannot expect the next session to be any better, and many members of the House of Representatives are either announced retirements, or plan to announce such soon.

Some are going on to run for Governor of their state or the US Senate, but most are just leaving elective office, feeling there is little motivation to stay, and in many cases, facing threats perpetrated by Donald Trump and his government against them.

The statistics are shocking!

As of now, Congress has only passed into law 128 bills, the worst since the 104th Congress (1995-1997), which had 430 bills passed into law, and was also the first Republican controlled Congress in 40 years, part of the “Republican Revolution” under Newt Gingrich!

This reality makes it seems clear that the Republicans are on the road to major losses and repudiation in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026!

Health Care Costs Will Skyrocket, And SNAP (Food Stamps) Will Be Cut Dramatically Next Month: The Height Of Cruelty And Loss Of Humanity!

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With four weeks to go until the New Year 2026, it is totally clear and obvious that we are going to witness a massive, skyrocketing increase in health care costs for tens of millions of Americans, thereby denying many of any ability to have health insurance coverage, and insuring the deaths of severely sick and disabled people of all ages.

Additionally, SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits will be cut dramatically, as the Trump Administration is working to crack down and deny basic food sustenance to millions of people who will starve and damage their health, all over the government demanding detailed records from “Blue” states on the background of recipients, as part of the plan to increase deportation rapidly of those considered “undesirable” from a whole slew of nations.

These actions are cruelty and demonstrate total lack of humanity and compassion by a government more evil than America has ever witnessed.

The Republican Party in Congress has totally failed at caring about the future of millions of Americans, with their refusal to challenge Donald Trump, and do the right, moral, ethical action on both of these issues!

So sadly, it seems unavoidable to recognize that the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is likely to be in death spiral, at least until the Democrats, hopefully, regain control of Congress in 2026, still a long shot, particularly in the US Senate.

But even then, Donald Trump can use the veto power and deny millions of Americans basic health care, and also ignore food support for the poor and disadvantaged!

Speaker Of The House Mike Johnson May Lose Leadership During Unproductive 119th Congress!

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been the leader of the House of Representatives (119th Congress) now for two years and one month, but his time as Speaker seems assured to be limited, and to end soon.

His House majority is becoming smaller, and after the announced resignation of Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, to take place in January, there are strong hints that some more House Republicans, sensing doom in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, may opt out before then, leaving vacancies.

The 119th Congress already stands out as the worst, least productive Congress, possibly going back to the early 1930s, and the 71st and 72nd Congresses (1929-1933), as the Great Depression overtook the nation under Herbert Hoover!

That led to Democratic dominance for the next six decades from 1932-1994, and helped to bring about the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson.

If more House Republicans decide to take an early exit, suddenly, the House of Representatives could fall into the control of the Democrats, dislodge Johnson, and make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House.

Even if that does not occur, there is a lot of discontent in the Republican Party with Johnson, who is seen as having “caved in”, being a sycophant and obsequious to the demands of President Donald Trump, and not concerned himself enough with pleasing his own House majority.

Hard to believe, but many think of Johnson as the worst Republican Speaker of modern times, which is saying a lot, when one considers his competition is Kevin McCarthy, his direct predecessor; Paul Ryan, who preceded McCarthy; John Boehner, who preceded Ryan, and even Dennis Hastert, the longest serving Speaker from 1999-2007, who ended up in federal prison on charges of sexual abuse of teenage boys.

By comparison, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (2007-2011, 2019-2023) shines as a brilliant House leader, regarded as one of the top few of all time, and now choosing to retire at the end of the 119th Congress at the end of 2026!

Trump And Republicans Suffer Major Setbacks!

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Donald Trump and the Republican Party are suffering major setbacks, and giving hope to those who believe in the preservation of American democracy!

After resisting the issue of the Epstein files, Donald Trump finally caved in, and today, the House of Representatives saw all members, except for one Republican, give up on trying to avoid revelations on the issue of sexual abuse of women and young girls, by a host of wealthy people promoted by Jeffrey Epstein, who called Donald Trump his “best friend” for many years.

And a great victory against discriminatory Texas gerrymandering was won by the decision of a three judge panel, including a Trump appointed judge, that Texas was promoting an unjust action, negating it, which gives Democrats who successfully are redistricting California, a major edge for midterm elections in 2026!

And cases are being lost in court about the use of the National Guard and ICE agents around the country, in the midst of horrendous abuses being visited on immigrants who are victims of racial profiling, even when citizens.

The Catholic clergy are also taking a strong stand against the mistreatment of immigrants by ICE Agents.

Additionally, with the effects of tariffs causing rise in prices of all kinds of goods, public opinion ratings of Donald Trump are collapsing, coming close to an all time low, near what it was at the time of the US Capitol January 6 Insurrection!

The fight for democracy will be won by resistance of decent Americans against the abuses being perpetrated by Donald Trump and his Fascist lawbreakers!

It is a fight that will take patience and determination, but it can be won!

The Issue Of “Age” In Upcoming Midterm Elections In 2026

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The US Congress, in both chambers, is the oldest in age of any period of American history, and the issue of whether it is time for members in their 70s, 80s, and beyond to move on, and allow a younger generation better able to relate to the future, to be replacing them.

David Hogg of Florida, who was a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, caused controversy in promoting such change, and he was pushed out, and is working with others to challenge many older, longer serving members in upcoming primaries for the 2026 Congressional Elections.

And the issue has come to the forefront, particularly, in the state of Maine, where Democratic Governor Janet Mills, age 77, is challenging sitting Republican Senator Susan Collins, who will have served for 30 years in the upper chamber, and is presently 72 years old.

So Graham Plattner, age 41, an oyster famer and Marine Corp veteran, is challenging Janet Mills, with the issue of age being a crucial one.

And Maine already has Senator Angus King, who just won reelection at age 80 in 2024, and Vermont has Bernie Sanders, who won reelection in 2024 at age 83.

But there are other such cases, as with Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massacusetts, age 80, who has served a half century combined in the House of Representatives until 2013, and since then in the Senate. Congressman Seth Moulton, age 47, is arguing that while Markey has been an excellent leader for Massachusetts, it is time for change.

Other Democratic Senators of advanced age are retiring, including Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Also Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is retiring in 2026.

But there are others who are over 70 and choosing to run for reelection, or planning to when the next elecion for their seat takes place, including Ron Wyden of Oregon and Chuck Schumer of New York in 2028.

Also, in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi of California, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the fist three past leaders in the chamber, are running again in 2026, despite their being in their 80s. And Republican Senator and President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley also could run for reelection in 2028, although at present, he is 92 years old!

It would seem legitimate that these older political leaders would finally give up their positions, and allow for the future generation to take over Congress.

Rachel Maddow Makes Clear: Authoritarianism Has Arrived Under Donald Trump! :(

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On Monday evening, the great Rachel Maddow on MSNBC made the clear announcement that Authoritarianism has arrived! 🙁

It is no longer an issue of whether it is occurring, or is in process.

When one looks at the multitude of events and statements over the past six plus months, America is in dire straits in so many ways.

The Republican Party in Congress and the majority of the Supreme Court are in unison with most of what is being perpetrated by Donald Trump, his Cabinet, and others.

While there is opposition still existing, we have seen caving in by many law firms, corporations, and even more troubling, by several leading universities, and even concessions by ABC and CBS, and the end of the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, which helped support public televsion and radio since 1969.

This is the most depressing time in American history, and may be ranked historically as the most dangerous times since the threat of Fascism and Nazism in World War II.

It is hard not to be in despair, and a sense of fear has spread, as ICE agents arrest and detain people without just cause, and most having no criminal record of any kind.

Nativism, racism, misogyny, homophobia all are having their heyday! 🙁

American democracy is facing unprecedented challenges, and American national security is endangered, as America’s relationship with the world, including its long time allies, is endangered by the highest tariffs in a century, and a sense of lack of reliability of the nation to the world around it.

But, as Rachel Maddow makes clear, it is not a time for just despair, but rather for determination to resist in every way possible, including NOT allowing the naked attempt of Republicans to fix the 2026 Congressional elections and Congressional and Presidential Elections of 2028 and beyond.

There is widespread outrage being openly expressed all across the nation, and courage and principle must continue to be utilized in an active resistance!

Donald Trump Has Set Out To Destroy “The Great Society” And “The New Deal”!

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Clearly, Donald Trump and his “Project 2025” has set out to destroy “The Great Society” of Lyndon B. Johnson, and given time and ability, the next goal is to wipe out “The New Deal” of Franklin D. Roosevelt!

IF the Democrats do not win control of the House of Representatives in the Midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, nothing will stand in the way of further destruction of federal agencies and programs.

The ability to win the US Senate is a tall order, but Democrats must find a way to flip four seats, and not lose any of their members.

Otherwise, the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), already under attack, will be also under threat, as well as environmental reforms promoted by Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden!

The last century and more of reforms will be under danger of total destruction!