The Battle for Congress: How Democrats and Republicans Are Preparing for the 2026 Midterm Elections

Dec 14, 2025 11:43 pm CST

This in-depth analysis explores how Republican Brian Jack and Democrat Lauren Underwood are leading their parties' House recruitment strategies for the 2026 midterms. Jack leverages his close relationship with President Trump to identify MAGA-aligned candidates, while Underwood follows the successful 2018 blueprint of recruiting community-oriented candidates with diverse backgrounds. With Republicans holding a slim House majority, both parties are targeting dozens of competitive districts nationwide in what could be a pivotal election influenced by Trump's unusual second, non-consecutive presidency.