Making Sense of the Mid-Term Elections

This lively evening discussion will offer expert analysis from leading US politics scholars, as well as the insights of two former Members of Congress.

The 2026 United States elections are set to be far more dramatic and closely fought – and draw in far more money and global media attention – than midterms have traditionally done. But how do we fully understand and interpret the outcomes of hundreds of congressional, gubernatorial and local electoral races? And what is it like to actually run for and win a seat in Congress?

This lively evening discussion will offer expert analysis from leading US politics scholars, as well as the insights of two former Members of Congress, Reps. Val Demings (Democrat, Florida's 10th district, 2017 – 2023) and Garret Graves (Republican, Louisiana’s 6th district, 2015 – 2025), who will share their personal experiences of Congress, as well as their views on their parties' fortunes in the elections.

This event is part of Congress to Campus UK, which is supported by the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, at the recommendation of the American Trust for the British Library.