The 2026 midterm elections are already underway with early and mail voting, and the prevailing polling suggests Democrats have a real shot at taking back the House and the Senate. But as the 2016 presidential race proved, polls are not a crystal ball. Donna Brazile, a former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, warns that her party cannot afford to treat a blue wave as a foregone conclusion.
“My fellow Democrats shouldn’t assume that a blue wave will sweep away Republican majorities in both congressional chambers,” Brazile writes in a new essay. She points to the party’s failure to contest state legislatures in recent cycles as a cautionary tale. To flip Congress, she argues, Democrats must mount a relentless get-out-the-vote push from now through Election Day—and then be prepared to defend their victories in court if Republicans challenge them.
Brazile stresses that the party’s base alone won’t be enough. “We must reach out to independents and Republicans who are disgusted by Trump’s repudiation of traditional Republican positions,” she says, citing his extremism, dishonesty, and failure to deliver on 2024 promises. That means broadening the coalition beyond regular Democratic voters.
One practical step: voters need to know the rules in their state. Registration deadlines, voter ID requirements, and ballot access vary widely. Brazile urges Democrats to direct voters to reliable, state-specific information and to encourage early voting by mail or in person. “Bad weather, illness, a heavy workload, traffic jams, long lines at polling places and other unexpected factors can prevent some voters from casting ballots in person on Election Day,” she notes.
Republicans have long built formidable Election Day operations, with precinct-level volunteers and extensive organizing. Democrats must match that intensity. Brazile points to pro-democracy groups like the No Kings movement, which says, “Power belongs to the people, but only if we use it.” She advises Democrats to work alongside such organizations to reach young and infrequent voters.
Voters should check their registration status now, confirm polling locations, and make a concrete plan to vote. The group Vote411 offers tools to help. But Brazile also warns of a darker possibility: Trump and his allies may challenge results, spread disinformation, and sow division when Republicans lose. The Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol remains a stark reminder of what happens when respect for the will of voters is abandoned.
“Democrats must be ready to respond to Republican attempts to undermine confidence in legitimate election results,” she writes, adding that every challenge must be handled through lawful procedures. She also calls for vigilance on election administration and redistricting changes that could affect competitiveness.
Brazile, who has campaigned for Democrats for decades, insists she has never tried to rig an election—and doesn’t know any Democrat who has. She recalls the 2024 race, when Kamala Harris lost to Trump. “I know Harris would have made a great president, but like her, I accepted the judgment of American voters,” she says. “Unless candidates run unopposed, all elections have to end with losers as well as winners.”
Her final advice applies to all Americans: believe in democracy and in free and fair elections. She quotes Winston Churchill, who said in 1947, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
As the midterm turnout gap becomes a key factor, and with pollsters warning of uncertainty, Brazile’s call to action is clear: don’t take anything for granted. The party must fight for every vote and be ready to defend the outcome.
