Election cheat sheet: These early races could tell us where the midterms are headed
Summary
The article identifies early 2026 midterm results that could signal whether Democrats are headed for a major wave and whether Republicans can retain control of Congress. It highlights races in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, and Iowa, while warning that final results in Maine and Alaska may take longer.Key Facts
- Florida’s 14th District shifted from a district Kamala Harris won by 8 points to one Donald Trump won by 11 points after redistricting; a win by Rep. Kathy Castor would signal serious trouble for House Republicans.
- Florida’s 25th District shifted from Harris +4 to Trump +9 and is described as the country’s most expensive general election race; Rep. Jared Moskowitz’s performance could indicate whether Republicans can remain hopeful about keeping the House.
- South Carolina’s Senate race is a key early indicator: a loss by Sen. Darline Graham to Annie Andrews in a state Trump won by 18 points would cost Republicans their Senate majority, according to the article.
- In Virginia, Democratic wins in the 1st District, which Trump carried by 5 points, or the 5th District, which he carried by 12 points, would point to a strong or very strong Democratic night.
- Virginia’s 2nd District race between Rep. Jen Kiggans and her Democratic challenger may show whether a Republican can hold a closely divided district; the article says Kiggans won by 3.8 points in 2024 while Trump carried the district by 0.2 points.
- A Democratic win in Kentucky’s open 6th District, which Trump carried by 15 points, would be a warning sign for Republicans.
- The article says Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate race and Iowa’s Senate race involving Ashley Hinson could help show whether Republicans still have a path to a Senate majority.
- Results in Maine may not be clear until Wednesday, and Alaska’s ranked-choice voting process could delay results for weeks.
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