Trump's Midas Curse: Endorsed Picks Turn Blue in 2026 Midterms
Donald Trump's endorsed candidates suffered major defeats in the 2026 midterms, with Democrats capturing both chambers of Congress and flipping seven Senate seats, delivering a sharp rebuke to the president's political influence. Trump endorsed 351 candidates, achieving a 96% primary success rate but only a 70% general-election win rate, down from 84% in 2022. Democrats won Senate races in Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine, Iowa, and Ohio, plus governorships in Texas, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and Nevada. Voter polls showed about two-thirds blamed Trump's policies for inflation, with cost of living and the Iran war key factors. Democratic control of Congress will hinder Trump's legislative agenda, while his primary-focused strategy narrowed the party's candidate pool ahead of 2028.