Midterm Elections

By Ayush Deshpande Apr 1, 2026

On Nov. 3, millions of Americans will go to the ballot boxes for the general midterm election, voting on who will control politics for the next two years and beyond. Elections will occur at all levels, including the US Senate, House of Representatives, State Legislatures of 46 States and the Governor's office in 36 States.

“Though most high schoolers cannot vote, these elections shape our schools, safety and opportunities in the US. It is essential that our generation pay attention to what happens in the country and actively support causes so that we influence the results of the election for our future,” Junior Victoria Khuat said.

If Democrats can win just one chamber of Congress, they can put a halt to much of President Donald Trump’s agenda, such as One Big Beautiful Bill, which extended the 2017 tax cuts and cut over $1 Trillion in from social programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. This is because bills must pass both the House and Senate in order to become law, which cannot happen if the Democrats control a branch of Congress and dissent. Winning control of Congress could also lead to a potential impeachment if Democrats win the House; however, it is not likely to succeed as an impeachment would require a two-thirds majority, 67 votes, to convict in the Senate.

Ryan Park Art

While elections will occur at every level of politics, the most critical battlegrounds will be for control of Congress, where Republicans hold a minuscule 218 to 214 majority in the House of Representatives and a clear 53 to 47 majority in the Senate. Per the Cook Political Report, 18 House seats are deemed toss-ups, meaning neither party has a clear chance of winning, with 14 of them currently being held by Republicans. If the Democrats can win in just four of these Republican-held districts while holding all of their own seats, they will retake control of the House. For the US Senate, there are several competitive elections, such as Georgia, Maine, Michigan and North Carolina. Due to the Republicans' sizeable majority in the Senate, the Democrats need to win all four of these races as well as one of the Republican-leaning Alaska or Iowa Senate seats to secure 51 seats in the Senate and gain a majority. If they only win 50 seats, Republicans would continue to control the Senate with Vice President J.D. Vance serving as the tie-breaker.

Many people have expressed concerns that Trump and the Republicans may jeopardize a free and fair midterm election. If passed by Congress, the SAVE Act will mandate that states prohibit anyone from registering to vote without valid proof of citizenship, which could range from a federal REAL-ID showing birthplace or citizenship to a Military ID and service record showing their birthplace. While supporters of the bill state that it is to protect the integrity of elections, in reality, it could lead to voter suppression, as up to 21 million Americans lack access to such documents, and thus would be ineligible to vote in the upcoming elections due to not being able to afford a passport per the Brennan Center for Justice. Additional concerns have been raised over whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be at polling booths to intimidate or suppress voters. Furthermore, on Dec. 18, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Georgia and Fulton County to obtain the private data of registered

voters, claiming to be investigating voter fraud related to the 2020 election. The election officials, however, argue that this would compromise voter confidentiality. The case was initially dismissed due to the lack of jurisdiction but is likely pending further action in a different court.

Public reaction leading into the election is mixed but generally favors Democrats going into the elections.

According to Real Clear Polling, as of Mar. 3, only 43% of US voters approve of Trump’s performance, with 36% approving of the direction of the country. His widespread unpopularity has been caused by several issues, the largestof which is the economy. The issue of the economy has an extremely large impact on Americans, especially young people, as there is low job opportunity with 92,000 jobs lost this February which could impact people’s ability to not only hold a job but also their future career earnings and career progression per the NYT. A poor economy, combined with Trump’s unpopularity on other issues such as immigration, can influence how voters cast their ballot as the Republican party continues to be behind in both polling and favorability.

“For students, the stakes aren’t just about money—a poor economy can show up in things like school funding, college costs, and access to scholarships, not to mention what paths are realistically available after high school and college,” said Senior Aadi Upadhyaya.

The stakes for the midterms could not be higher; millions of Americans will have a voice at the ballot box about Trump's actions and policies and fight for change in the country. The outcome will shape the balance of power in Congress and determine whose agenda is passed or stopped. For many voters, this election not only represents the direction of the country but also how that direction will impact their own future.

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About the Contributors

Ryan Park

artist

Ryan Park is a junior at Leland High School who is an artist for The Charger Account. When he is not residing at the gym, he likes to mess with his cats and read manga.

Ayush Deshpande

staff writer

Ayush Deshpande is a junior at Leland High School, he is a staff writer for the charger account. He is very interested in Formula One, Legos, Star Wars, and when not at school or playing video games he is often found at K1 Speed or his freinds houses.