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2026 midterms

The Right’s Cruelty Has Consequences

Republicans’ vulgar midterms ads were a reflection of their politics. Americans are sick of both. By Sarah Jones

2026 midterms

The Astonishing Return of the Southern Democrats

By Ed Kilgore Two years ago, Democrats were on the ropes in the South. Now they’re back as a diverse, progressive, and even aggressive party on the rise.

podcast

2026 midterms

How One Black Congressman Broke a Republican Gerrymander

By Zak Cheney-Rice Representative Shomari Figures fought off a map designed to unseat him. “A big takeaway is that redistricting has a risk of backfiring,” he said. podcast

THE FEED

we'll do it live

we'll do it live

The Blue Wave Undertow Continues: Live Updates

By Intelligencer Staff

Here’s are the latest post-midterm developments, controversies, and aftershocks.

just asking questions

just asking questions

The Return of Anything-Can-Happen Elections

By Benjamin Hart

Venerable political analyst Amy Walter digests the results of a shocking evening.

J.D. Vance Is Just Going to Pretend He Didn’t Sell His Soul for Trump

The vice-president’s response to the GOP’s midterms meltdown was to distance himself from the administration’s unpopular war with Iran.

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Kathy Hochul Is Sort of Crushing It

The governor won big this year, and not just thanks to the blue wave.

The Right’s Cruelty Has Consequences

Republicans’ vulgar midterms ads were a reflection of their politics. Americans are sick of both.

The Astonishing Return of the Southern Democrats

Two years ago, Democrats were on the ropes in the South. Now they’re back as a diverse, progressive, and even aggressive party on the rise.

How One Black Congressman Broke a Republican Gerrymander

By Zak Cheney-Rice

Representative Shomari Figures fought off a map designed to unseat him. “A big takeaway is that redistricting has a risk of backfiring,” he said.

This Midterm Wave Was One for the History Books

For Democrats, it was in most ways comparable to the 2010 Republican landslide and in some ways even better.

tremendous content

tremendous content

‘Watch the Beam Go Up’: Trump Goes Full George W. Bush

By Margaret Hartmann

Now watch this … ballroom beam installation.

Talarico, Ossoff, El-Sayed: Watch Every Big Democratic Victory Speech

By Margaret Hartmann

Here’s an Election Night speech roundup so you can get to know America’s new leaders — or just bask in the unfamiliar feeling of Democratic victory.

The Many Ways Republicans Completely Screwed Up the Midterms

GOP infighting is well underway.

the body politic

the body politic

Susan Collins Was Doomed by Her Moderation

By Rebecca Traister

She could have left office a respected figure in Maine. Instead, she’s going down with Trump.

Kalshi Also Won the Midterms

The prediction market cemented its place in political coverage on Tuesday night — and, like it or not, for future elections to come.

Abdul El-Sayed Called His Shot

How the brash Michigan Democrat sailed to a drama-filled victory.

Talarico’s Demolition of Paxton Is the Crown Jewel of the Democrats’ Win

Against every weapon the GOP and Elon Musk could muster, the young seminarian won in a landslide that transformed Texas politically.

Republicans Are Calling It the Worst Campaign of All Time

“Trump has truly hired the dumbest people.”

we'll do it live

we'll do it live

The House, Senate, and Texas All Turn Blue: As It Happened

By Intelligencer Staff

Here’s our running account of Democrats’ stunning collection of midterm victories on Election Night (and how Trump reacted).

How Democrats Unleashed a Blue-nami

By David Freedlander

Winning the Senate was deemed a near impossibility. Now the map is blue.

Trump Ponders Pardoning Elon Musk and Many, Many Others

With Democrats poised to take power in Congress, the president vows to “protect” those who have worked for him.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Trump Says We’re ‘Not Fighting a War’ As He Bombs Iran Again

By Margaret Hartmann

On Hannity, Trump told voters this is merely a “soft war” since there “hasn’t been shooting for months.” (Yesterday’s strikes don’t count.)

Haley Stevens Doesn’t Want You to Blame Her Fiancé

By Olivia Craighead

She’s an independent woman who blew up her career all on her own, okay?

tremendous content

tremendous content

The Big Strong Man Who Likes Big Strong Men

By Paul McAdory

Trump’s admiring comments about various Republican men are not signs of “gay dementia,” as some have half-joked. He is as straight as ever.

A Midterms Election Day Reading List

By Intelligencer Staff

Here’s some of our best coverage of the contests, characters, and controversies in the run-up to the 2026 midterms.

Guess Who’s Coming to Washington

New York’s Claire Valdez is poised to join a bloc of democratic socialists who are making Republicans — and moderate Democrats — very nervous.

The Democratic Spam Trap

By Alex Bronzini-Vender

Operatives know their apocalyptic emails are a self-defeating mess. But they can’t stop sending them.