Since suffering a demotion to the minority in the 2024 election, Chuck Schumer can’t seem to stop losing.
His head is spinning as his party has been unable to stop the Trump Administration from pushing its America First agenda forward.
And now Schumer is sweating through his suit after learning the reality on the election ground.
Politics never stop
Political pundits are always looking ahead to what’s next.
Some look to the biggest upcoming event – like the next Presidential election in 2028.
Those analysts are already speculating as to who will replace the outgoing President Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, and who will survive the Democrat primaries to lead their party.
Others take a more chronological approach.
Those political wonks are focused on the off-year 2025 elections, with the special elections to fill vacancies due to Trump cabinet picks, gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia, and the New York City mayoral race all front-and-center.
But between 2025 and 2028 comes the 2026 midterm elections.
2026 will determine if the Grand Old Party expands its majorities in Congress to pass more America First legislation – or if Democrats will regain the gavel and obstruct the MAGA platform.
Unlike the 2024 map which was very friendly to Republicans, the 2026 map more favors the status quo.
And it doesn’t help Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the GOP is starting out with a head-start.
Problems on the blue front
Democrats are trying to regroup after an embarrassing 2024 showing.
However, reasonable observers have to question if they’re headed in the right direction.
The biggest names in the party are doubling down on the same failed strategies that got them into this position in the first place.
The Democrat National Committee (DNC) recently elected Ken Martin as its new Chairman.
Martin isn’t a very well-known name, his biggest claim to fame coming as the Chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman in failed Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz’ state of Minnesota.
They followed that up by naming controversial gun-grabbing activist David Hogg as Vice Chair.
And then there’s the warchest problem.
Republicans enjoy record fundraising haul
While Democrats have yet to announce their fundraising results for January, the GOP couldn’t wait to spread the word about their haul.
In fact, Fox News is reporting that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) broke a record last month.
According to the report, the NRSC brought in more money in donations than in any other off-year January in history.
Campaign finance reports show the NRSC raised $8.5 million in January.
And new NRSC Chairman, Senator Tim Scott already has plans to put the money to good use.
“To deliver on the promises President Trump made to the American people, we must protect and grow our Republican Senate Majority,” Senator Scott said.
All eyes on 2026
Republicans flipped four Senate seats in 2024 en route to a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber.
However, pickups will be more difficult to come by in 2026.
Last year featured Democrats running for re-election in deep red states – or choosing to avoid re-election and leaving an open seat – like West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio.
Meanwhile, the most competitive seats in swing states like Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania – the latter of which flipped red – were all held by Democrats.
2026 is a different story.
Republicans are defending in 22 states, compared to just 13 for Democrats.
But it’s the battlegrounds that will determine the fate of Senate control.
Early on, there are only seven states that appear likely to be at least somewhat competitive.
Democrats are only on defense in three of those states: New Hampshire, Georgia, and Michigan – where the seat will be open thanks to the impending retirement of incumbent Gary Peters.
On the other hand, the GOP will be on the defensive side of the ball in four states: Maine, North Carolina, a special election in Ohio, and the wild card of Alaska.
