1:59The Washington Monument glows with Freedom 250 projections on December 31, 2025, in Washington, DC.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The curtain has risen on the year marking the 250th anniversary of the United States – and the stage is prepared for a pivotal year for the political landscape in America.
Here are six significant political narratives to monitor in 2026.
The Washington Monument glows with Freedom 250 projections on December 31, 2025, in Washington, DC.Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The midterm elections: the House, Senate and Trump agenda on the line
The year’s highlight political event will probably be the midterm elections, during which all positions in the U.S. House and 35 in the U.S. Senate will be contested. These positions include many from recently-redrawn congressional districts or held by incumbents not seeking reelection.
At stake may be the future of President Donald Trump’s agenda: whether Republicans can continue to advance the legislation he supports through both the House and Senate in his final two years in office. Topics like health care, the economy, and immigration are anticipated to be hot-button issues.
The U.S. Capitol is visible, Dec. 31, 2025, in Washington.Rahmat Gul/AP
Republicans aim to expand their slim majority in the House to provide House Speaker Mike Johnson with more votes to pass legislation. Conversely, Democrats are hoping to gain enough seats to flip the House, thereby serving as a counterweight to Trump’s legislative agenda.
Once all vacancies in the House are filled — expected to be completed by mid-2026 — Democrats would need to gain three seats in the midterms to take control of the House.
Republicans hold a larger majority in the U.S. Senate, currently possessing 53 seats compared to 45 Democrats and two independents who align with the Democrats.
However, both parties are also vying to strengthen their presence in the upper chamber. Notable Senate races to observe include Georgia, where Republicans consider incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff a key target.
Contentious primaries will set the stage for critical races
Several of this year’s prominent House, Senate, and gubernatorial races are poised to highlight contentious primaries, as numerous candidates compete to be their party’s nominee for the November election.
This includes the U.S. Senate primaries in Texas, slated for March, where both Republicans and Democrats boast numerous high-profile contenders in the fray.
Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn — who enjoys the backing of the GOP establishment — faces primary challenges from state Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt. All three candidates are striving to present themselves as Trump’s dedicated ally.
Sen. John Cornyn addresses a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on November 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Simultaneously, Democrats — facing a challenging landscape after years of unsuccessful statewide contests in Texas — also have a fierce primary. State Rep. James Talarico, a rising star within the party, is up against progressive powerhouse U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the primary.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com