Midterm election results transformed state and congressional power

by Claire Dunmore About Claire DunmoreNovember 11, 20266 links · ~42 min read · ~1 min for the TL;DR

The Committee Room by Claire Dunmore: six links on Politics every day.

TL;DR

Mark Danner discusses why Democrats should not only aim to rebuild after taking over state legislatures across the United States.
Midterm elections in 1974 and 1994 created Capitol Hill majorities that appeared revolutionary immediately after Election Day, but ultimately proved less significant years later.
A record number of mothers in Congress face affordability challenges extending from childcare costs to the war on Iran.
Voter sentiment shifted noticeably away from Donald Trump across crucial battlegrounds, from Ohio rallies to a Pennsylvania polling site on Election Day.
No Republican women will represent Iowa in Congress next year, despite the party previously holding a Senate seat and two House seats in the state.
The Trump administration repeatedly battled in court over its authority before the 2026 midterms, leading to unsuccessful and unprecedented interference by the Justice Department.

From the curator

Recent midterm elections reshaped legislative control and shifted political power away from Donald Trump's allies. In ProPublica's 13-minute read article, Alec MacGillis reports that voter tone noticeably changed in key regions across Ohio and Pennsylvania that were vital to Donald Trump. In another 4-minute read article for The 19th, Barbara Rodriguez and Mariel Padilla report that no Republican women will serve in Congress for Iowa next year, down from holding a Senate seat and two House seats. Meanwhile, The Conversation's 4-minute read article by Robert A. Strong notes that while midterm wave elections initially look like revolutions, historical lessons from 1974 and 1994 show they often appear less significant years later.

Claire Dunmore

Curated for this issue

the Guardian7 min read‘The path is very difficult’: Mark Danner on why Democrats shouldn’t aim to only rebuild post-midterms
The veteran journalist’s Crossing the Rubicon comes after a historic election where Democrats took over state legislatures across the US

The Conversation4 min readWhat happens after a midterm tsunami? Lessons from 1974 and 1994
Surprising midterm elections that create new majorities on Capitol Hill look to be revolutions in the days after they occur. Years later, they often appear to be more complex –…

Robert A. Strong · curated 1 time

The 19th7 min readWomen voted on affordability. What can Congress do to deliver on it?
From the war on Iran to childcare, Congress will have a path to addressing the affordability crisis — and more moms than ever in Congress to lead that effort.

Chabeli Carrazana · curated 1 time

ProPublica13 min readOn the Ground in the Final Days Before Trump’s Midterm Debacle
From rallies in Ohio to a Pennsylvania voting site on Election Day, the tone had noticeably changed among voters in some of the regions that were crucial to electing Donald Trump.

Alec MacGillis · curated 1 time

The 19th4 min readA seismic shift in Iowa: No Republican women will serve in Congress next year
Before Election Day, a GOP woman held a Senate seat and two of Iowa’s four congressional seats.

Barbara Rodriguez, Mariel Padilla

The Conversation6 min readJustice Department’s interference before midterms was unsuccessful, unprofessional and unprecedented
The Trump administration fought one battle after another in the nation’s courts over its power – or lack thereof – before the 2026 midterm elections.

John E. Jones III · curated 1 time

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From the curator

the Guardian7 min read‘The path is very difficult’: Mark Danner on why Democrats shouldn’t aim to only rebuild post-midtermsThe veteran journalist’s Crossing the Rubicon comes after a historic election where Democrats took over state legislatures across the US

The Conversation4 min readWhat happens after a midterm tsunami? Lessons from 1974 and 1994Surprising midterm elections that create new majorities on Capitol Hill look to be revolutions in the days after they occur. Years later, they often appear to be more complex –…

The 19th7 min readWomen voted on affordability. What can Congress do to deliver on it?From the war on Iran to childcare, Congress will have a path to addressing the affordability crisis — and more moms than ever in Congress to lead that effort.

ProPublica13 min readOn the Ground in the Final Days Before Trump’s Midterm DebacleFrom rallies in Ohio to a Pennsylvania voting site on Election Day, the tone had noticeably changed among voters in some of the regions that were crucial to electing Donald Trump.

The 19th4 min readA seismic shift in Iowa: No Republican women will serve in Congress next yearBefore Election Day, a GOP woman held a Senate seat and two of Iowa’s four congressional seats.

The Conversation6 min readJustice Department’s interference before midterms was unsuccessful, unprofessional and unprecedentedThe Trump administration fought one battle after another in the nation’s courts over its power – or lack thereof – before the 2026 midterm elections.