Election 2026 #1
Before I begin it want to make it clear that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican.[1] My voter registration says “Unenrolled”.[2] Massachusetts law allows me to vote in the primary election of either party.[3]
Why Talk about the Midterms Now?
The Midterm Election cycle is not as far away as you may think. Three states … Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas … will be holding their primary elections on March 3, 2026. Two more … Mississippi and Illinois … have primaries scheduled for March 10th and 17th respectively. We’ll be in “Midterm Election Season” in fewer than 2 months. If you consider the mid-decade redistricting efforts in some states, the Midterms have already started.
If you are a registered member of a party that has primary elections or, like me, your state’s election law allows you to choose your ballot at each primary, voting in the primaries … and any other election … is not only your civic duty; it is in your best interest as well. Under the Constitution of the United States of America true power lies not in the politicians, but in We the People … with an emphasis on “We”. (In the 2024 Presidential Election, more registered voters did not vote than voted for any candidate,)
The primaries are your first chance in an election cycle to exercise the power that the Framers of the Constitution gave you. You get to help decide which candidates from the party of your choice will run in the Midterms. Some of your candidates may win; some may not, but you did your part as a citizen.
Which Offices are Elected in the Midterms?
Every two years … concurrent with the Presidential Election and at the Midterm Elections … all 435 members of the House of Representatives and roughly one third of the members of the Senate (35 in 2026) are up for election/re-election. In the primaries, you and the other voters in your congressional district get to choose the candidates who will run in the Midterms … where you and the others will choose your Representative. If one of your Senators is up for election/re-election, your state’s candidates for that seat will be selected by the same process.
But, that’s not all …
36 states and 3 U.S. territories will be electing Governors in 2026. All 50 states will be electing/re-electing members of their state legislatures. In many locales, you will find candidates for offices at all levels of government on your ballots. Whoever is elected to each of these myriad offices will be involved in decisions that may, to a greater or lesser extent, effect each of our lives. Collectively, they will have a lot of power … but, it is power that We gave them … and, in a year, or two, or four, or six, We the People can take that power away. That is the gift of our Constitution and Rule of Law.
Here There Be Dragons[4]
If you are a citizen of the United States of America who is 18 years old or older, registering to vote and voting in the Midterm Elections (and every other governmental election) is your right and responsibility. Unfortunately, there are those who may try to prevent or interfere with your vote.
- One or more of the three branches of the Federal Government may try to prevent the Midterm Elections from happening.
While this is totally unthinkable,[5] highly unlikely, and absolutely illegal, it wouldn’t be the first law that the current administration has ignored while Congress and the Supreme Court have “looked the other way”. Immigration enforcement ignoring due process of law and the Posse Comitatus Act are two good examples.
- With the encouragement of President Trump, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature passed a mid-decade[6] redistricting map that created 5 new Republican districts in Texas.[7]
To counter Texas, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature created a redistricting map creating 5 new Democratic districts in California. In accordance with California’s Constitution, the new map was presented it to the citizens of California for a vote of approval. That presentation, Proposition 50, passed by an overwhelming majority.
Now, other states are following or rejecting the gerrymandering back and forth of Texas and California. - The Trump Administration has used “illegal immigrants”[8] as an excuse for armed and masked agents dressed in military-like garb driving unmarked vehicles (I.C.E.), members of the National Guard, and even the Marines to invade our cities. I.C.E. agents routinely violate the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments to the Constitution. The National Guard members are ordered to break up “riots” that are actually peaceful protests … a violation of the 1st amendment. Whether aiding the I.C.E. agents, the National Guard, or the local police, the marines are violating the law just by being there. The administration is using tactics that far exceed what should be needed to address the problems they are purporting to solve. Why?
Either the Trump Administration is attempting to intimidate We The People or, the President and his advisors are stark staring nuts. (There’s a high probability that both are true.) Let’s assume they’re not crazy and know exactly what they’re doing … and intimidation is what they’re doing. Now, imagine these intimidating individuals hanging around the polls in November 2026. How many potential voters might decide that voting is just a bit too dangerous and stay home? Those citizens who are among the groups who are being racially and ethnically profiled … with the blessing of the Supreme Court … would be especially unlikely to risk harassment. - President Trump’s approach to politics … and, from every indication, to life in general … is as a zero-sum game in the extreme. He believes himself to be “a very stable genius” who is incapable of having a bad idea or making a mistake. Therefore, anyone who opposes his actions, disagrees with him, or is different from him (eg. a different race or skin color,[9] a different socio-economic group, a different gender, etc.) becomes an enemy who must be crushed. He speaks about his “enemies” using venomous language that often slips into the language of violence.
Some of his most fervent followers hear these words and take them literally. They believe that their way of life and our country are under attack. They see anyone who is different from them … in national origin, religion, skin color, sexual preference, political perspective, etc. … as evil.[10] They believe that they are in an existential struggle for survival. They see violence as their only option. They see Donald Trump as their leader and protector.
Ironically, I am writing this part of the article on January 6. 2026, the 5th anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capital Building on January 6, 2021.[11] On that day, Trump and some of his allies held a “Save America” rally and used it to instigate a mob of Trump’s supporters to stop the final part of certifying Joe Biden’s winning of the 2020 Presidential election.
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Notes
[1]
The main purpose for this introductory paragraph is to inform any official or activist of the Democratic Party to stop sending me e-mail implying that I am one of them … and asking me for money. (Many of these e-mails lead me to think that they believe the members of their party are grossly uninformed.)
The most frustrating of these “gimme” letters are those asking you to take a survey or sign a petition. I’m always happy to do the former and sometimes the latter. I happily start taking the survey or reading the petition. So far; so good, but … but then, I reach the end. There, I learn that the only way to submit the survey or sign the petition is (you guessed it) to send them a donation. I close the browser. This, of course, triggers a couple of weeks of e-mails with subjects like “You forgot to submit your responses to our survey” or “You forgot to sign our petition.” 😡
I did give a several donations to the Harris campaign because she was infinitely preferable to Trump … and, because I think it’s long past time to have a president who has not suffered from decades of “testosterone poisoning“. (Have you noticed that Donald Trump has only won when he’s running against a woman? Perhaps the misogynist vote gave him the edge.) Anytime that I feel inspired to donate to any candidate or cause, I will do so. That’s my choice … based on the candidate or cause; not party affiliation.
[2]
In addition to the parties Democrat (D) and Republican (R), Massachusetts recognizes 31 legal political designations:
- America First Party
- American Independent Party
- American Term Limits
- Conservative Party
- Constitution Party
- Forward Party
- Green Party USA
- Green-Rainbow
- Interdependent 3rd Party
- Latino-Vote Party
- Libertarian
- Massachusetts Independent Party
- Natural Law Party
- New Alliance Party
- New World Council
- Pirate
- Pizza Party
- Prohibition Party
- Rainbow Coalition
- Reform Party
- Socialist
- The People’s Party
- Twelve Visions Party
- Timesizing Not Downsizing
- United Independent Party
- Unity Party
- Veterans Party America
- We The People
- Workers Party
- Working Families
- World Citizens Party
Four of these 31 designations contain the word “Independent” in them. To avoid any confusion, if you do not choose to belong to any of the above, your registration says, Unenrolled (U).
(Hmmm … I wonder if they have refreshments at meetings of the Pizza Party.)
[3]
Voters who are registered as Unenrolled (U) must request which ballot they want in the Primary. After voting, their designation reverts to Unenrolled (U) until the next primary election.
(When I moved to Massachusetts 32+ years ago, your party changed in accordance with the ballot you chose. You had to go to the town registrar’s office to change it back. I forget when they changed that, but I’m glad they did.)
[4]
The quote “here there be dragons” is from an old map-making tradition where cartographers marked dangerous or unexplored territories with illustrations of dragons and sea monsters. Today, it is used metaphorically to represent any unknown, dangerous, or uncharted area, whether literal or figurative.
[5]
I know. I know. How can it be “unthinkable” if I thought of it? I’m using artistic license for emphasis. OK? 😉
[6]
The Constitution of the United States calls for a census every 10 years after which the 435 Congressional Districts are proportionally re-assigned to the individual states. Thereafter, the states carry out internal redistricting in accordance with their constitutions. Mid-decade redistricting has been extremely rare since the 19th Century and is illegal in some states. Hopefully, what’s occurring now will be a rare anomaly in this century.
[7]
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division, issued an order enjoining the use of the congressional redistricting plan based on racial gerrymandering. Texas appealed the case to the Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito granted the state’s request to pause the lower court’s ruling while the Supreme Court decides which map the state may use.
[8]
The term “illegal immigrant” is intended to make us believe that person to whom it’s being applied is a criminal. Being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime … subject to imprisonment or more extreme punishment. It is a civil violation. One who is found, under due process, to be in our country without appropriate documentation is subject to a fine and deportation. If, after being deported, one returns without following proper procedures, it becomes a clear and premeditated violation of our law … a crime.
[9]
Skin color must be particularly useful for him. How many orange-skinned people do you know?
[10]
They are not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier …
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My Less Than Humble Opinion 