US Midterm Elections 2026 Live Updates: Supreme Court rejects Trump’s California ballot demands as Democrats rally on midterms eve

In the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections, early voting has seen an unprecedented turnout of 56 million Americans, a figure that highlights voter discontent with politicians across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump's approval rating is lower than that of his predecessors when they held their first midterm election, including his first term.

While Democrats are expected to retake the House and gain control of the Senate, the impact on legislation may be limited. Former Republican congressional adviser Rina Shah suggests that Democrats' strategy in the Senate should be to refuse Trump's administration policies rather than reversing them. This approach could slow-walk or block nominees, hold oversight hearings, and put conditions on arms sales, troop deployments, and war powers.

However, Trump will likely veto any bills he disagrees with, forcing Republicans to take a public stance on each issue. Democrats will need at least 60 seats to overcome a presidential veto, which is unlikely this cycle. To make a real impact in the Senate and overcome a presidential veto, Democrats will need to secure at least 60 seats, which is unlikely in the current cycle.

Nonetheless, with heavy negotiating and compromising, there may be opportunities for Republicans to support measures aligned with Democrats' priorities.