Regional Dimension of the Interim Elections of 2026 in the USA

In November 2026, the USA will hold the interim elections for the Congress and the authorities of most states. In the current Congress, both chambers are under the control of the Republican Party, which allows its leader, President Donald Trump, to control the legislative process and pursue his own initiatives without regard to the democratic minority of the parliament. The midterm elections could change the balance of power in both chambers of Congress. If the Republicans lose their majority in at least one of the chambers, the administration will lose its ability to pass legislation, and the opposition will gain a mechanism for parliamentary oversight and investigations. The regional dimension of the midterm elections is also important: during the election period, the configuration of power in the states and the role of the regional component in the life of the state increase, reflecting the underlying trends of American federalism. The article examines the features of the electoral geography in the 2026 midterm elections; the phenomenon of swing states; the political configuration of the midterm elections; the primary stage of the midterm elections and forecasts of their results, as well as the activation of various regional movements, including the growth of separatist sentiments. The outcome of the midterm elections in the United States is quite important for Russia from a foreign policy point of view, especially regarding the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions pressure. The American experience is also important for understanding some domestic Russian electoral processes.

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