Can Democrats take the Senate? US midterms special with Galen Druke
Summary
Hugh Linehan and Galen Duke analyze the 2026 US midterms, noting Democrats are heavily favored to retake the House and likely the Senate. They discuss how gerrymandering and geographic sorting limit the size of the expected "blue wave," while highlighting key Senate races in red states like Texas, Ohio, and Michigan. The conversation also covers the launch of the new "Still Counting" podcast and the impact of Trump’s policies on rural and Hispanic voters.
Topics discussed
Listener survey and bonus episode promotion
Introduction to the Still Counting podcast
Midterm election overview and House of Representatives
Democratic prospects and the impact of gerrymandering
Geographical sorting and its effect on district maps
Voter turnout and the midterm election dynamic
Voter switching and coalition shifts
Midterm vs. presidential election differences
Senate race overview and Democratic chances
Challenges for Democrats in red states
Texas Senate race and the Ken Paxton scandal
Local factors in competitive states like Michigan
Polling accuracy and historical election errors
Skepticism of polling in red states
Economic concerns and MAGA voter backlash
Demographic shifts among white non-college voters
Maine Senate race and Susan Collins
Local politics and state-specific deals
Michigan Senate race and Abdul El-Sayed
Islamophobia and opposition in the Michigan race
Ohio Senate race and Republican strategy
Sherrod Brown's legacy and attack ads
Impact of repetitive political messaging
The Amy Acton attack ad controversy
Backlash against the Acton ad and far-right reaction
Midterms as a precursor to the 2028 primary
Future party strategies and candidate questions
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