Last November, we examined the Democratic victories in the 2025 off-year elections through the lens of three defining characteristics—affordability, accessibility, and authenticity—arguing that candidates who successfully connected with voters on these dimensions outperformed expectations regardless of their ideological positioning. As the 2026 primary season has unfolded, those themes have remained remarkably durable. At the same time, we have observed two additional characteristics emerging among successful Democratic candidates: accountability, as campaigns channel voter frustration with corruption and political dysfunction into a call for reform, and ambition, as candidates embrace bold ideas and generational change to distinguish themselves from the political establishment.
Read MoreThe Trump Administration released the 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda over the July 4 holiday. As the administration releases these regulatory insights, we are routinely reviewing them and analyzing the Unified Agenda as part of our ongoing effort to help clients anticipate the administration’s regulatory priorities and incorporate upcoming rulemakings into their advocacy and business strategies. The most recent iteration of the Unified Agenda provides an overview of the administration's continued emphasis on deregulation, permitting reform, domestic manufacturing, procurement modernization, and other policy priorities expected to shape the federal regulatory landscape over the coming year.
Read MorePlurus Strategies announced the promotion of Varunavee Mohanraj to Policy Analyst and the return of Jessica Fernandez as Legislative Assistant, strengthening the firm's capacity to deliver strategic counsel, legislative intelligence, and advocacy support as clients prepare for the lame duck session and the 120th Congress.
Read MoreAs the 2026 midterm landscape begins to take shape, the battle for control of the House remains highly competitive and increasingly dynamic. Democrats continue to show measurable strength in national indicators, with the party holding a consistent 5–6 point advantage on the generic congressional ballot and outperforming 2024 benchmarks across every special election held thus far this cycle. At the same time, a growing number of retirements and open seats — now exceeding 50 districts — is adding further volatility to an already fluid map. Together, these trends suggest a favorable political environment for Democrats, particularly in swing districts where enthusiasm and turnout could prove decisive.
At the same time, the evolving redistricting landscape may significantly reshape the battlefield in ways that could blunt Democratic gains. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Republican-led states have accelerated efforts to redraw Congressional maps, potentially reducing the number of truly competitive seats and creating new structural advantages for the GOP. Ongoing litigation and map changes in states including Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida — alongside setbacks for Democratic redistricting efforts in Virginia — underscore how central the courts and redistricting process will remain to the fight for House control. While we expect fewer truly competitive races overall, it remains possible that Republicans could see redistricting backfire after creating more competitive races for their own Members previously running in safe districts and energizing Democratic turnout.
Taken together, the current environment presents competing realities: Democrats are benefiting from stronger national political indicators and special election performance, while Republicans may still find pathways to preserve or narrow their majority through redistricting and a shrinking universe of competitive districts. We will continue monitoring these developments closely and would be happy to discuss the implications for specific districts, regions, or policy priorities in greater detail.
Read MoreAs Washington turns its attention toward the 2026 midterm elections, the battle for control of the U.S. Senate is entering a more dynamic and competitive phase. While Republicans continue to hold a numerical advantage in the chamber, recent polling, fundraising trends, and evolving political conditions have begun to reshape the outlook in several key battleground states. Our latest political analysis examines how the Senate map is shifting as we move from spring into summer and highlights the races most likely to determine control of the upper chamber in the 120th Congress.
A combination of national and state-level factors is contributing to increased volatility across the political landscape. Voter sentiment surrounding the economy, cost of living concerns, President Trump’s approval ratings, and ongoing geopolitical developments are expected to weigh heavily on Senate contests nationwide. Several states — including Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Michigan, and Maine — are emerging as particularly consequential as both parties compete to shape the battlefield ahead of November. Recent changes in race ratings, record-breaking fundraising activity, and highly competitive primaries underscore just how fluid the environment remains. Even states that currently lean toward one party are attracting increased national attention as outside groups, party committees, and donors assess opportunities to expand the map.
Read MoreCheck out our most current iterations of our House Committee “Musical Chairs” and Senate Committee “Musical Chairs” in anticipation of the 120th Congress. These analyses show a possible projection of committee spots that could be vacant, Members and Senators that may be at risk of getting bumped from committees, and Members and Senators that may have to give up their committee spots due to certain rules.
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