What Democrats’ Midterm Gains Reveal About Trump’s Voter Coalition

The 2026 midterm elections saw historic gains for Democrats, who won control of both chambers of Congress and flipped key seats in states like Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina. The electorate’s leftward swing was diverse and widespread, but three demographics showed notable shifts that helped support Democrats on Tuesday.Distinct gains came from young, rural, and Hispanic voters—all of whom were key to President Donald Trump’s victory in 2024. National polling on how these groups voted in House races offers a broad measure of their support for Democrats, while Senate contests reveal how those trends played out in key states. Experts weigh in on what may have prompted the shifts.Young votersYoung people overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates this election cycle. According to the AP Voter Poll, which was conducted Oct. 19 through Nov. 3, about 7 in 10 voters ages 18 to 29 said they supported the Democratic candidate in their local House races, while about 3 in 10 said they voted Republican. Although Trump was not on the ballot, the poll found that 60% of young voters said their House vote was intended to “express opposition to Donald Trump.” This marks a sharp change from th...