By: Rakesh Malhotra 

The president’s party normally loses seats in a midterm. What’s striking in 2026 is just how far the losses went. Democrats won both chambers of Congress, flipped at least 7 Senate seats and over 20 House districts and took over Republican governorships in Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Georgia.

The American people have given a clear rebuke to corruption, the toll of high prices and the incompetence of Washington. They’ve given Congress both the House and the Senate and have sent a very clear message that they want to see household costs come down, and the administration held to account.  

The AP voter poll gives us one explanation for the national mood. Most voters put the blame for the cost of living on the Trump administration and wanted Congress to do a better job of overseeing things. That’s a rebuke in terms of affordability and accountability. The poll results in themselves don’t tell us how much of an impact candidate appeal, local issues or turnout may have had in any race.

Two Senate races highlight that divide and the extent of the frustration. In Texas James Talarico beat Ken Paxton with strong support from younger and Hispanic voters. In Kansas pastor Adam Hamilton ran on a platform of affordability and a readiness to work across the aisle. He defeated the incumbent Roger Marshall to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Kansas in 94 years. Even in the heart of the Republican party, loyalty to the party was not absolute.

Interestingly the Two-House races also had Indian American representation. Pia Dandiya won Florida’s 22nd District and Dr. Amish Shah was the one who led Jay Feely in Arizona’s 1st District, which was still uncalled in the morning of November 4.

The job is to turn this verdict into something families can see at the supermarket and something that shows how those in power conduct themselves. The onus is now on the incoming Democratic majority. Voters will judge them on what they do to reduce the cost of living for households and how closely they hold the administration to account.

Now the task is to turn this verdict into something families can feel at the grocery stores. Graphic by Rakesh Malhotra