On November 3, 2026, the midterm elections will be held at the halfway point of Donald Trump’s presidency. Many students here at Hingham High School are ecstatic for their day off on Tuesday, yet many do not understand the true importance of these elections. While only a small percentage of students currently enrolled at Hingham High School will be able to vote in the upcoming election, understanding how the midterms will impact the lives of everyone in the Hingham community and across the country is crucial.
Every two years, the midterm elections mark the opening of all 435 seats of The House of Representatives, with a state’s number of seats varying based on their population size. Also, since Senators serve six years at a time but are staggered, there will be elections for one-third of the Senate. While The House of Representatives depends on the populations of states, within The Senate, every state no matter their population size, has two representatives – meaning 100 Senators in total. This allows there to be 33 seats up for election this midterm. With this way of organization, this election marks the opening of 468 spots in the United States Congress.
Dee Sweeney, a Junior at Hingham High School remarks, “Although I am not of age to vote, I really hope that people who can go and vote. I think it is extremely important to vote in all elections, as it is a luxury that many of us here in the United States take for granted. This election is especially important because it marks the midpoint of Trump’s presidency, and it will tell the public his approval ratings.”
As of now, both the House of Representatives and Senate have a Republican majority, which helps President Trump, a Republican, pass laws with little resistance.
Despite several other publications stating that the polls have predicted a democratic surge following the last two years of Trump’s presidency, which may tip the scales of both sides of Congress, these polls are not always very accurate (according to an article by BBC News).
Amelia Byrne, a junior at Hingham High school, states, “I have been seeing a lot of controversy in the news about the fight for a Senate seat like Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers in Michigan, and I find it very interesting how people are channeling support in different ways. I also think it is important to notice that this election holds great opportunities for the Democratic party, but only if people take the opportunity to go out and vote. Many people fought for the right to vote in the past, and we cannot allow that to slip away now.”
