With the 2026 midterm elections days away, voters are once again focused on the cost of living, while campaigns increasingly rely on combative rhetoric rather than detailed policy proposals, says a University of Michigan political scientist.
In an interview, Jonathan Hanson of U-M's Ford School of Public Policy discusses the issues motivating voters, the impact of political polarization on campaigns and turnout, and what the election could mean for the balance of power in Washington, D.C.
How are the midterm elections shaping up? What issues are motivating voters?
In some ways, the 2026 election is a redo of 2024, with many of the same issues still present. People were unhappy with the cost of living, grocery prices and gas prices. Ironically, or not, we're talking about those same things once again. But this time, we have a different occupant of the White House, and the anger is being directed at President Trump rather than President Biden.
How is the combative rhetoric in campaigns affecting voters?
While voters might want to see a solution-oriented discussion of policy proposals, we're mostly seeing a lot of strong rhetoric coming from both sides of the aisle.
For Democratic candidates, a key strategy is to run against the Trump administration and its policies, linking their opponents to the unpopularity of the administration. Many Democratic candidates are promising to fight growing economic inequality in America, arguing that we need to reduce the power of billionaires and corporations in our politics. From the Republican perspective, there is discomfort with defending the current state of the country, particularly the cost of living. The response often turns to personal attacks, attempts to undermine opponents' character or claims that they are dangerous.
We're seeing a lot of heightened rhetoric and not a lot of "Let's talk about what I would do once I'm in office." There's no doubt voters would like a solutions-oriented approach from all candidates. Instead, we're seeing a lot of discord and rhetoric that portrays the other side as dangerous or too extreme for America. That forces us to think about broader existential crises rather than the specific things we can do to make our lives better. I think most voters are simply tired of that kind of politics.
What could the election results mean for the next two years in Washington, D.C.?
The implications of this election for control of Congress are enormous. Presently, the president doesn't face a lot of oversight.
Republicans in Congress have generally been willing to turn over the functioning of government to the president. And the president seems willing to expand his authority as much as possible, seemingly beyond what the Constitution often allows. Democratic control of Congress would mean a major change in the degree of oversight the presidency faces.
It would certainly affect agenda setting in Congress. Democratic control of the House and Senate would create a lot of difficulties for the administration in trying to do what it wants to do.
And let's not forget the Senate's power over appointments and confirmations. If there were a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, or as other judicial nominations arise during the president's term, having Democrats in control of the Senate would have dramatic implications for the future of our court system. There's no doubt that the consequences of this election are huge.
