The Midterms Matter More Than You Think: Why Real Change Starts Before 2028

Let’s be honest; when most people think about political change in America, they think of presidential elections. That’s when the headlines scream. That’s when billions of dollars are spent. That’s when every social feed, cable news segment, and dinner table lights up with conversation.

But while everyone’s watching the top of the ticket, real power, right now, sits somewhere else.

It sits in Congress.

And unless voters start treating midterm elections with the same urgency and intensity that we treat the presidential race, nothing will change. In fact, things will likely get worse.

Congress Holds the Keys

Despite what it looks like on TV, Donald Trump isn’t ruling with unchecked power. His ability to reshape the country, push extreme policy shifts, and dismantle long-standing norms relies on one thing:

Congressional inaction.

The Republican-led Congress has shown, time and again, that it is unwilling, or more accurately, too afraid to act as a check on Trump’s power. The reason is simple: fear of the base. Fear of losing their seats. Fear of losing millions in campaign donations if someone like Elon Musk funds their primary challengers.

But here’s the flip side: just as Musk threatened to bankroll those who would challenge the status quo, voters can do the same; with their votes.

And let’s be clear: people from both major parties are feeling the damage. Whether it’s economic policies that favor the wealthy, cultural battles that leave communities reeling, or international instability that shakes markets and households alike, the pain isn’t partisan. It’s personal.

The Midterms Are the First Real Test

If voters want to change the course of this administration’s damage, they have a much closer chance than 2028. They can do it in 2026. That’s when the midterms hit. That’s when every seat in the House of Representatives is up for grabs, and one-third of the Senate as well.

And don’t sleep on your state and local elections. Those are the pipelines to federal office. Governors, secretaries of state, and state legislators control everything from voting rights to healthcare access to education funding.

The Challenge of Midterm Participation

Let’s be real: voting in the midterms isn’t glamorous. There are no red carpets, no stadium-sized rallies, no glossy magazine covers. It’s not “sexy,” and for many, it’s not convenient.

And the things we need to do between now and then? They’re not easy. They’re hard work; volunteering, calling representatives, organizing in our communities.

But ask yourself this:

Wouldn’t most people of good conscience work hard to save their families?

Wouldn’t they fight to reclaim their healthcare and protect Medicare and Social Security? Wouldn’t they do everything in their power to stop the slow bleeding of small businesses, family farms, and working-class dignity?

Of course they would.

And now is that time.

The Power of Turnout

Let’s look at the numbers.

In the 2022 midterm elections:

107.7 million valid votes were cast in U.S. House elections.
That represents only 45.1% of the estimated eligible voting population.
More than 130 million eligible voters stayed home.

Let that sink in. Over half the people who could have voted, didn’t.

If even a fraction of them had shown up, key races could’ve flipped. Gerrymandered districts would have been harder to defend. Policies that have hurt millions might’ve been blocked, delayed, or outright reversed.