As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the political landscape for corporate America is shifting from traditional policy debates to a hyper-political environment where business itself is on the ballot. Corporate leaders are navigating a climate where both voters and politicians across the spectrum are skeptical of big business, and public name-checking by politicians is now a daily occurrence. To succeed in this environment, organizations must look beyond traditional lobbying and focus on core issues, such as affordability and AI. With persistent pressure on housing, healthcare, and energy costs, politicians who will prevail are those who will demonstrate a commitment to responding to real economic pressures affecting Americans' lives.
However, the implications of these midterms stretch far beyond 2026. While current trends suggest a Democratic takeover of the House, a midterm victory does not guarantee future success unless parties can navigate deep internal divides and win in critical swing states. Our latest analysis examines how corporations must adapt in the face of this election cycle, the evolving dynamics of critical swing states, and the shifts necessary to maintain a competitive edge through 2028 and beyond.
Download our 2026 Election Trends and Political Landscape deck to dive deeper into the data and prepare your organization for what comes next.
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Redistricting could impact 2026 and beyond, but the results are not yet finalized. Decisions from several legislatures and courts remain unresolved, and Republicans risk overplaying their hand in redistricting.
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Congress is on track to do less, even by election-year standards. Speaker Johnson is already dealing with razor-thin margins. Now, with retirement announcements and many members seeking other political offices, it’s all but certain that the House will be out of session for a significant portion of 2026, resulting in limited legislating.
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Affordability will be a cornerstone theme shaping the narrative on a range of policy issues. The need to address affordability will affect everything from housing and healthcare to banking, AI, and energy costs. Savvy politicians will focus on demonstrating their commitment to reducing rising costs, which will affect companies and associations across nearly every industry.
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