Democrats’ dominance in Tuesday’s elections reset expectations ahead of next year’s midterm battle for House and Senate control, reinvigorating a party that has been in the political wilderness and leaving Republicans lamenting that the gains President Donald Trump made a year ago with key portions of the electorate all but evaporated.

Bannon served four months in prison in 2024 after defying a congressional subpoena from the January 6 Committee. Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty to defrauding donors to his We Build the Wall nonprofit, avoiding more jail time. President Donald Trump previously pardoned Bannon for related federal charges.

Scott is considered a longshot, with Minority Whip John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, viewed as front-runners in the race to replace McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

Democrats face an uphill battle to recapture a U.S. Senate majority in the November 2026 midterm elections, as Republicans are defending just two seats seen as competitive by nonpartisan analysts and hold a 53-47 majority.

President Trump on Tuesday ramped up his calls for Senate Republicans to do away with the filibuster, warning that failing to do so would increase the chances of Democrats taking control of

Republican candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections are ramping up for a campaign cycle in lockstep with President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump acknowledges the shutdown hurt Republicans on Election Day, while Senate Democrats demand he come to the table and negotiate.

This year's election year battle for control of the U.S. Senate is intensifying, as voter disaffection for President Donald Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic weighs on a growing number of Senate races in the South and Midwest.

A new YouGov survey, conducted on November 5 among 5,066 adults, shows that 41 percent think the Democrats are more likely to win majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026, while only 30 percent said the same about the Republicans. However, 29 percent said they are not sure.