Americans are in a bad mood over perceptions about the economy, anger over the administration’s deportations, a potential war in Venezuela as well as Nigeria, that people feel is unnecessary, as well as increasing health care costs because of Republican’s refusal to continue subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration is under water when it comes to all of these issues. In the latest right track/wrong track poll, sixty percent of Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track. Add in the Epstein scandal and you have an electorate ready to respond negatively. Bankruptcies have increased by 11%. Farm bankruptcies have increased as well.
Yet the administration seems to be unable to understand the difficulties Americans are going through. When it comes to affordability, Trump himself called it a hoax. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessont, has told ABC News ” In case you don’t know it, I’m actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too;” This comment is from a man who is worth approximately six hundred million dollars.
Despite this reality, 80% of republicans still support the President.
The 2026 mid-terms will provide the most obvious way for Americans to voice their displeasure about the present administration. Despite what may be a perfect time to take back control, democrats cannot simply depend on the anger of the public to put them back in charge of the House of Representatives. They must provide a positive reason to vote for them as well. Second, they must engage in a massive turnout campaign. While Trump himself has hemorrhaged the Latino and Black voters he gained during the last election, they are not a guaranteed to turnout for democrats.
The 2026 midterm election is turning out to be the most consequential election. Trump is a lame duck president. Despite constitutional clarity, some of his allies have tried to muddy the waters. Attorney Alan Dershowitz stated that “it’s not clear if a president can become a third term president and is not clear if it’s permissible” while former advisor Steve Bannon predicted Trump will serve a third term.
JD Vance understands his boss is a lame duck, as he was endorsed by Erika Kirk, President of Turning Point USA. The midterm elections will be consequential for two reasons. The first is that if Democrats win, they will create a sense of accountability that republicans, with exception, have been unable or unwilling to provide. This accountability will include potential impeachments of several cabinet members. Many commentators have concluded that republicans have forfeited their article one responsibility over areas such as tariffs, and the bombing of Venezuelan boats.
The second reason involves the 2028 presidential election. On January 6th, 2029, the US Senate will certify the results of the election. The Vice President, in this case JD Vance, will preside over the certification process. While the certification is actually ceremonial, eight republican senators and one hundred thirty-nine republican house members voted not to certify the 2020 election. Even today those nominated by the Trump administration refuse to state that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. They will obfuscate the issue by saying “he was certified” or that “he was declared the winner.”
There is reason to be concerned about how the 2029 certification process will occur. In 2021, former Vice President Mike Pence, was under tremendous pressure to question the certification process, which he had no constitutional authority to do. To his credit, Pence showed integrity in refusing to do so. Vance, unfortunately, does not seem to have the same integrity.
Americans have short memories. Despite the riots of January 6th, by Trump supporters and the president’s refusal to call out the national guard to protect congress, America subsequently voted him back into office.
The 2026, midterm election will be the first step toward accountability of the executive branch of the government. Hopefully it will not be too late.