The Long View

The Long View

Getting Off the Couch

Why Democrats Risk Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Midterm Victory

Julian Zelizer's avatar
Julian Zelizer
May 12, 2026
∙ Paid

Democrats sound either too buoyant or too pessimistic about the 2026 midterms. Though the party is in an excellent position to capture control of the House, and possibly the Senate, many Democrats seem to forget that the outcome will depend on a fierce fight in the next few months.

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