By Quardricos B. Driskell, Columnist
As we approach the 2026 midterm elections and the start of the 119th Congress, Americans must confront a sobering reality: if Democrats fail to regain control of the House of Representatives, our democracy may face further erosion at the hands of extremism, gridlock, and a deepening assault on institutional norms. The stakes could not be higher.
Since reclaiming the House in 2022, Republicans have increasingly used their majority not to govern but to obstruct. Committee rooms have become arenas for political theater. Subpoenas are issued not in the pursuit of oversight but in the name of vengeance. Critical legislation—from reproductive rights and voting access to climate action and gun reform—has been held hostage by a far-right faction whose allegiance is not to the Constitution, but to conspiracy and power.
If this continues into the 119th Congress, the consequences will be dire.
First, a Republican-controlled House in 2026 would likely intensify efforts to delegitimize federal agencies, undermine the rule of law, and weaponize congressional investigations to damage political opponents. In recent sessions, we’ve already witnessed sham impeachments, threats to defund the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ), and coordinated attacks on public health institutions. Expect more of the same—if not worse—if another majority emboldens Speaker Johnson and President Trump.
Second, the ability to pass essential legislation will grind to a halt. The country faces urgent challenges: a warming planet, deepening inequality, an aging infrastructure, and a fragile healthcare system. But if Democrats do not regain control of the House, we can expect more manufactured shutdowns, debt ceiling brinkmanship, and resistance to common-sense solutions.
Third—and perhaps most ominously—a Republican House will continue its march toward authoritarianism. The 2026 midterms are not just about partisan advantage; they are about preserving democratic norms and rejecting a movement that has openly questioned the validity of elections, embraced political violence, and trafficked in white Christian nationalism. A Democratic House is the firewall we need to protect voting rights, defend judicial independence, and ensure a peaceful power transfer in 2028.
This is not about blind allegiance to any political party—I am not a Democrat. Rather, it is about supporting those prepared to govern with integrity, speak the truth, and uphold the ideals of a pluralistic democracy.
If Democrats fail to reclaim the House in 2026, the consequences could be profound. Vital reforms will stall, and the legislative branch may continue to descend into dysfunction. Those who thrive on chaos and exploit it for political gain will further erode the credibility and effectiveness of our government.
Let us be clear-eyed: the future of the Republic does not hinge on one election alone. But the 2026 midterms may determine whether we choose governance or grievance, democracy or demagoguery.
The House must be reclaimed—not simply for partisan advantage, but for preserving the American republic itself.
Quardricos Bernard Driskell is a federal lobbyist and an adjunct professor of legislative politics, where he teaches courses on race, religion, and politics at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. He also serves as senior pastor of the historic Beulah Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and is a member of Faith in Public Life’s national coalition. Follow him on Twitter @q_driskell4.
The Democrats need to get back to being the working man’s party.
First, I would suggest that there is enough going on politically that America should already be alarmed. But we don’t see much of that. The economy seems to be strong despite tariffs, and it’s a truism that people will willingly sacrifice freedoms in exchange for a sense of comfort and security, even if delusional. (Russian citizens have been do it for generations).
Second, I think Democrats who are counting on a Trump backlash are making a big mistake. Democrats need to get back to the core issues of everyday living – wages, adequate health care, affordable living. They’ve paid the price for an emphasis on “woke” issues. While many of those issues do indeed deserve attention, the problem is one of perception, For mainstream Americans, woke has come to mean an elite form of preachiness – telling folks that they need to use new pronouns, telling them what flags they can and cannot display, telling them that all whites are guilty for slavery and other past sins. This is what has rubbed so many Americans the wrong way. Many voted for Trump, while not liking him, because they disliked the Democrats even more. So Democrats need to change. If they sit on their hands waiting for Trump to fall out of favor, they’re toast.
Agree 100%
So true. We need clear honest commentary like this to help people understand what is truly at stake.
Right on the money brother. And the time to organize a 2026 blue wave is NOW. Thank you for well said summary of the situation.
Wake Up! I used to be a democrat, this madness I just read is a huge part of the fall of the Democratic Party!
Your first sentence creates a lot of doubt on your position.
Total one sided bs.
Keep thinking this way and the Democrats will be totally irrelevant in 10 years.
Troll somewhere else.
Saying what you don’t like to hear is not trolling.