2 midterm elections that brought on new eras in US politics

Two 19th-century elections are a reminder that a sizable midterm shift, like the one expected in November, can signal long-lasting changes in American politics that set the country in a new direction.

By: Robert A. Strong, University of Virginia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 23, 2026

Words: 1,243

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 4 days ago

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By Robert A. Strong, University of Virginia

The conventional wisdom is that the Democratic Party has the advantage in the 2026 midterm elections and could become the majority party in one, or both, chambers of Congress. The margin of that anticipated victory is harder to predict.

And the size of a party’s majority makes a difference. To see why, it’s worth looking back to the second half of the 19th century, when two dramatic …

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