Texas was left with only one Republican at a statewide level, which means its 40 electoral college votes could be up for grabs in 2028. Both the centrist and left wings of the Democratic Party have claimed victory from the results as each side sifts through possible 2028 contenders. Vice-President JD Vance’s reflection on where the midterms went wrong for Republicans has been interpreted as him paving the way for a 2028 run.
Ballots were still being counted in the US midterm elections, but the political landscape had already begun to pivot toward the 2028 White House race.
The buzz about the next presidential contest was already under way after results that left both parties assessing winners, losses and possible contenders.
A good showing in the midterms does not guarantee a White House win two years later.
The Trump coalition of working-class and Latino voters faltered, reversing many of the gains he had made with those electorates in his successful 2024 campaign.
Several prominent potential presidential candidates had been running in the 2026 midterms, and some emerged looking strong.
One assessment of the campaign period said that after the president was sworn in, a lot of messaging from the White House did too much to highlight deportations. While one figure has previously said he has no plans to run for president, a successful campaign, with several viral moments, helped boost his national profile.