Healthcare, economy and the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill': Welcome to the midterms
The 2026 midterm elections heat up as Democrats target kitchen table issues while Republicans defend Senate control, as key races could reshape Congress.
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If you’re still unpacking results from the 2024 election, it’s time to give up.
2026 is an election year.
Welcome to the midterms.
Health care. The economy. The "One Big, Beautiful Bill." All are factors as voters go to the polls this fall.
Democrats are trained on kitchen table issues this year. They hope that voters will forget about culture wars and have buyer’s remorse, perhaps flipping the House — and even the Senate.
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"They just don't have enough money in their pockets to pay the bills to buy the medicine they need," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "Costs are skyrocketing. And in 2026, you'll be hearing from us about costs over and over and over again."
However, Republicans are bullish on maintaining Senate control.
"I think you're going to see a remarkable 2026. I mean we're excited about the prospects for the economy," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Bret Baier.
But Thune is cautious.
Midterm elections are on the agenda in 2026. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
"Typically there are headwinds in a midterm election," said Thune. "You can't convince people of something they don't feel."
Retirements by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Tina Smith, D-Minn., could create challenges for Democrats to hold those seats. Take, for example, why Republicans are spending so much time railing against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and the state’s welfare scandal and childcare questions. This fuels optimism that Republicans can prevail in the Gopher State.
"President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It's a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign (NRSC) to Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser.
Republicans hope that Democrats nominate controversial candidates.
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"If I didn't know better, I would say that some of these folks are Republican plants. They're clearly from the loon wing of the Democratic Party," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., about some Democratic Senate hopefuls.
