In Brief
- Economic concerns and independent voters are likely to shape election outcomes.
- Turnout and candidate selection could decide close congressional races.
- Both parties face pressure to reach voters beyond their bases.
On October 22, Stanford political experts David Brady, Douglas Rivers, and Robert Grady discussed the outlook for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. The conversation explored how economic dissatisfaction, shifting independent voters, and turnout could drive Democratic gains in Congress. They also examined how candidate selection and political polarization could shape the results and the future direction of both parties.
