US Midterm Elections: What Happened and What's Next?

The 2026 US midterm elections in early November promise to be highly consequential.

The Trump administration is anxious that the Republicans retain their majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Many Democrats believe that turning over those majorities in this election represents the last best chance to restrain the Trump Presidency and rescue the Republic.

Polls suggest significant disaffection amongst former Trump voters about the war on Iran and its impact on the cost of living.

Claims concerning partisan interference with the elections circulate on both sides.

President Trump has already demonstrated, in 2020-21, a willingness to try to overturn an election defeat.

Other countries, including erstwhile American allies, will be watching closely.This roundtable event will take place three days after the midterm election.

Four University of Southampton's experts will review the results themselves, the initial response to those results from the Trump Administration and the MAGA base, the election's significance in terms of trust in the American democratic process, and the implications of the results for American politics over the next two years.There will be then an opportunity for Q&A.