2026 midterm elections
Why the 26 secretary of state races this November matter more than they did before Trump’s drive to assert federal authority over elections
Secretaries of state are at the center of growing conflict over how election authority should be divided between states and the federal government. There are 26 elections for the job this November.
Young voters fear mass shootings like the one in Oregon, but that fear divides them on gun control
An Oregon school shooting comes weeks before midterms when young voters could break turnout records, but research shows shared fear doesn’t mean shared views on guns.
Young voters fear mass shootings but are divided on gun control
Research on the ‘massacre generation’ reveals that shared fear over mass shootings doesn’t lead to shared policy views.
Philly voters care about local issues, but election integrity fears make them wonder if their vote matters
A political communications expert explains how myths about election fraud can leave voters asking: What’s the point?
How Trump’s disaster aid delays and FEMA cuts could galvanize the ‘movable middle’ in the 2026 elections
In communities across America, people recovering from floods, storms and wildfires have been left waiting much longer for federal aid – if it arrives at all.
Murder of Black suffrage leader Octavius Catto reveals why Election Day 1871 was one of the most violent in Philadelphia history
Philadelphia has given the intersection of 8th and South streets a new name: Octavius Catto Way.
I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos
Mayhem at the polls on Election Day 2026? Americans are worried. But a scholar of election law who has also run a nationwide election protection program says he doesn’t believe it will happen.
Democrats distance themselves from trans rights – close midterm races may show whether that pays off
A scholar of LGBTQ+ politics looks at how Democratic campaigns in Texas and Ohio are shifting on trans issues and what that could mean for control of Congress.
Why older lawmakers may wait too long to step aside
Many older incumbents are on the ballot for the 2026 midterms, adding to America’s debate over the wisdom of aging politicians delaying their retirement.
Meet the ‘independent voters’ who will likely decide which party triumphs in the 2026 midterm elections
Republicans and Democrats need to make inroads with independent voters. But the themes that motivate the party faithful may not sit well with independents, who tend to recoil against partisan rancor.