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FOUNDED 1962
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NEWS
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“READING THE LEAVES”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the 2026 midterm elections now less than two months away, the latest edition of The Ripon Forum examines the political landscape for Republicans heading into November, the new battleground for candidates in this year’s campaign, and the history of the midterm curse that so often bedevils the incumbent president’s party.
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WASHINGTON, DC – As health care costs continue to rise across the country, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC-03), Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA-08), Chair of the Democratic Doctors Caucus appeared before The Ripon Society and The Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange to discuss their shared goal of…
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WASHINGTON, DC – With Chinese automakers flooding markets around the world, The Ripon Society held a breakfast discussion yesterday morning with U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who discussed his legislation to keep Chinese-made vehicles out of the U.S. market and laid out why he believes the threat they pose is too significant to ignore.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
TEDDY TWEETS
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“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” Kansas City Star May 7, 1918
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“I ask you to help strike the note that shall unite our people. As a people we must be united. If we are not united we shall slip into the gulf of measureless disaster.” Before Knights of Columbus, New York City October 12, 1915
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“In the long run the one vital factor in the permanent prosperity of the country is the high individual character of the average American worker.” Fifth Annual Message December 5, 1905
RIPON FORUM
Volume 60, No. 04
September 2026
The Political Landscape for Republicans Heading into the Fall
Despite the fact that midterm elections are historically difficult for an incumbent president’s party, the outcome of this year’s contest is not a foregone conclusion for the GOP.
The Midterm Curse and the Balance of Power in Washington
Since 1934, the average midterm seat change for the president’s party has been a loss of 27 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 3.4 seats in the Senate.