Takeaways from the 2026 Mid-term Elections

Here are my takeaways from the 2026 mid-term elections

• Independents trump MAGA

• Principles trump Deals

• Competence trumps Loyalty

• Heros trump Bullies

• Enthusiasm trumps Money

• Integrity trumps Corruption

• Humility trumps Narcissism

Let me explain.

Independents trump MAGA

In the runup to the midterm elections President Trump had a frenetic schedule of rallies and events to fire up his MAGA base. And his base is fanatical in their enthusiasm for Mr. Trump. And he loves basking in their adulation, but he ignores the large number of disaffected Republicans (RINOs he calls them) and independents that were repulsed by his actions. When you are president you must represent all Americans, not just your base.

Principles trump Deals

Mr. Trump is very transactional, that’s how he made his fortune and also how he got to be president. But he assumes that everyone else is just as transactional as he is – but many are not. He may be able to pressure business leaders into making deals where only he profits, but world leaders have proven to be much harder to manipulate.

Competence trumps Loyalty

President Trump demands that all his subordinates be loyal to him personally. Solid conservatives like John Cornyn and Thom Tillis were cast aside because of insufficient loyalty and were replaced on the ticket by loyal but incompetent (or crooked) hacks. The MAGA base may support loyalty to Trumpism but the rest of the population not so much.

Heros trump Bullies

Americans like underdogs and heros, not bullies. President Trump’s affinity for dictators like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping (and his despicable treatment of the valiant Ukrainian President Zelenskyy) goes against American principles and exposes his true nature for all to see.

Enthusiasm trumps Money

Democrats spent a lot of time denouncing the oligarchs whom they accused of trying to steal the election, but all that oligarch money could not stop the blue tsunami (of course the Democrats had their own benefactors that they do not call oligarchs). All the money Elon Musk poured into failing campaigns could not counter the enthusiasm of young Democrats.

Integrity trumps Corruption

President Trump and his family are using his power and influence to make a large fortune even larger. And his pals like Lutnick and Witkoff are using their positions to rake in even more (the fact that they are both Jewish doesn’t help). What they are doing may be legal (a Congress controlled by Democrats will check that out) but the American people don’t think it is what our leaders should be doing.

Humility trumps Narcissism

President Trump is always touting the American economy under his direction as the best in history. He ranks himself as the greatest American president. He wants to build ballrooms, and arches to enhance his glory and rename famous buildings after himself. It is not only unseemly. It undermines the credibility of everything he says.

Democrats should not be deluded into thinking that the blue wave was the result of their leftist ideas. Their behavior on these key characteristics was not that great either – it was just that they were not Trump. The affection of the American people (and their votes) is still up for grabs. This election was not about our economy which, for all its problems, is the strongest in the world. Nor was it about our military prowess even though the war with Iran drove up gas and diesel prices. It was about our character and who we are as Americans. And the 2028 presidential election will be even more so.