2026 Midterm Election Takeaways + Reflections

14 hours ago

23 min read

TCC | 2026 Midterm Election Reflections (11.13.2026)Dr. Lorin R. Carter | The Corporate Consultant

50:36

(Quick Reader & Listener Note: Audio commentary is above. Full transcript is below. TLDR visuals shared at the end for quick reference.)

Okay, the 2026 midterm election was a complete voter referendum. Let's get into it.

This is Dr. Lorin Carter, The Corporate Consultant, helping Christian entrepreneurs and CEOs live and lead well as they start sustain and scale their businesses profitably. Part of that is being aware of what is happening politically.

I waited to record this, and to publish the blog and on IG until the Mississippi Senator Race was called, because I'm originally from Mississippi. I had already seen what happened in Texas, and I wanted to wait until my home state was officially called before I did this. So, you'll hear some of those reflections in detail today.

 I'll be sharing my takeaways and reflections from the 2026 midterm election. Normally midterm elections give voters a chance to share how they're feeling with the first two years of a presidential tenure. It can either continue in the same vein so that party maintains or increases control of Congress, or it can be where voters note a shift in how they feel and where they want their allegiance to lie. And that can be at the national level, state level, and local level. This year, it was at every level, literally a wave of change.

 Let's start.

Takeaway #1

First, Americans woke up, showed up and made their voices heard through their votes. Literally, we saw, the phrase, "the people have spoken", come true.

 Voters stated, in no uncertain terms, that they were dissatisfied with the status quo. They demanded accountability, and wanted change in regards to affordability, respectable politics, meaningful access to healthcare, better conditions for business, and in general, a more stable and representative government. What we saw was citizens remembering that their votes have power, and that every vote does count.

 There were historic turnouts in early voting, and on election day. People staying in lines hours after the polls had closed, of course, because they were there before they did. But to make sure that their voice, their opinions, their priorities were recorded in this election.

Takeaway #2 

Next, we saw that your difference may be what connects you to the people you're called to serve.

History was made in this election. Barriers were broken.

 It was amazing to see things that we had been told would never happen occur.

It was amazing to see candidates actually speak to the people that they wanted to elect them.

To note their difference in the take on how government should be run, the way that people should be involved in governance, and what being a public servant should mean--that you should be working to support and better the lives of your constituents. not enrich yourself. We saw people respond to that message.

 Candidates went to every corner of the districts that they were looking to be elected in. The candidates that did that were the ones who were victorious on election night.

Some historic first. include Georgia celebrating the 1st black woman governor in the nation with Keisha Lance Bottoms, with Texas welcoming its 1st Hispanic woman governor in Gina Hinojosa, and Mississippi, electing its 1st black senator, since reconstruction in Scott Colom.

 We also saw the 1st black governor in Florida, and a number of other firsts across the nation at every level, in senatorial races, and gubernatorial races, and mayoral races, it was a wave of change. And the things that were deemed impossible. came to fruition.

 It put people on notice to remember that as long as you show up, as long as you vote, anything is possible. And when you put people at the center of your work as an elected official, and you're honest and you're genuine in your connection and conversation with them, you will see the results when election day comes.

Takeaway #3

Then we saw this important thing, I haven't seen as many people talk about it, but it was one of the things that stuck out to me immediately in two specific races.

That is the road to change is long, and you may not be the one that benefits from your efforts. But you know what? Do it anyway, because the ground game matters.

So I'm sure you all are familiar, and if you're not, here's your introduction to 1 Corinthians 3:6, where we're taught about planting, watering, and increase. So one will plant, meaning they will have a role in breaking that barrier, and starting. Next is watering, so nurturing, and causing something to grow. The final one, the increase, is the outcome or the goal that we're looking to achieve.

 I mention it because both in Texas and in Georgia, we saw former candidates for governor in Beta O'Rourke and Stacy Abrams, in Texas and Georgia, respectively, run campaigns for governor that created these stalworths of voter education and support and voter activation that propelled candidates up and down the ballot to office, and in this year's election to governor.

Now, when O'Rourke and Abrams ran, neither of them won. But they were able to catalyze and to invigorate voters into this process. and bring in new voters, reactivate voters that had disengaged from the system. and give those who were engaged in the process, but looking for a way to become more active,, more involved and to advocate more, a place to go.

 They created these systems, these engines, that were able to drive, change, well beyond their intended outcome, which was to be elected governor when they ran. And now they got to see and witness the outcome that they were building towards be achieved by Gina Hinojosa in Texas and by Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia

They built these systems. They didn't personally benefit, yet they kept building anyway. And years later, the fruit of those efforts is now being realized and now being seen.

Takeaway #4

And now we get to our 4th point, which is one, I've been waiting to say for a while, and I have definitely said it to friends and in conversations that are personal and not public.

But this is one of my favorite takeaways from the electio, and it is, God isn't for either party, because that means He could lose.  God is for what's right, and because of that, faith is not a party platform. I say that because of this:

 God determines who wins and who loses. He allows those things. He does not align himself with a human system, because human systems fail.

 He doesn't align himself with a particular political party, because those things change. their focus and their platform are not initially intended to further the gospel, to save souls, to further the kingdom. So there is not reason or incentive for Him to attach Himself.

However, there may be those in the party memberships. that are Christian, which is fine, because we do have to exist in the world. We do have to exist in society and in our communities and in culture, and we are called to impact where we live positively, right?

However, no one party owns God. That doesn't make sense.

 If you think about it, to say that one party has ownership of a God who is infinite, makes no sense. The structure of that argument is built on a fallacy.

What I thought was interesting in line with this point, is that there was a notable increase in religious leaders running for office on the Democratic side.

 Most religious, and I hate to say rhetoric, but that's what it is, is not founded in what the Bible actually says. A lot of religious rhetoric has been on the Republican side, and that's been one of the ways that they have been able to attract Christians to the party.

 It was very interesting to see the Democratic Party be intentional about recruiting candidates and supporting candidates that also had a very strong Christian faith. And not asking them to dim, or dull it down, or to sidestep it, but elevating it in a way in their conversations, which is very interesting. In Kansas, we saw Pastor Hamilton, a mega church pastor, be recruited to run, and he won the Senate seat. I think the win ended a 94 year drought for the Democratic Party in that state.

In Texas, we saw James Talarico, who was a former educator, and whose grandfather is an evangelical pastor, raun for office successfully. We saw him share his faith, and ground arguments of why he believed, what he did, or why he votes the way he does in his faith, and to actively talk about it as an asset and how it will help him to govern well.

I thought the ability for voters to see it on both sides was a rebuttal of the presumption that one party owns the rights to the Christian faith. That one party could claim Christianity as its own. It was good to see representation on both sides of the aisle, and to have those discussions, or at least the juxtaposition of positions politically where faith was integrated in both arguments. It was not seen as a leverage point for one or the other. So that was a very interesting point to me.

In that same conversation, we were also reminded that all faiths are allowed to be present and welcomed in our political caucuses.

 This was one of the major representations and points of Senator Abdul El-Sayed, elected the first Muslim senator. While as Christians, we do not believe the same tenets as the Muslim faith, there is a practice of tolerance into our faith where we respect difference, and in our political system it is express that citizens have freedom of religion.

 That conversation was also, um, very loud in the race, and some Christians did not respond well. And that is, you know, also a lesson for us and how we carry ourselves in these different environments. You know, are we able to be tolerant?

 Are we able to show love to those that are different than we are? They believe differently than we are. Are we able to show our faith through our actions and not just our words?

 Or are we becoming the Pharisees in how we engage with other people when they're different? Did Jesus just share his faith? He shared what he believed.  He shared that he was the Christ. He shared the fulfillment of scripture, but He also did not force. He also was not rude.

 He was not harsh. Now He can be shady sometimes. Some of the verses, if you go back and read them, he was funny, but he was always respectful. Unless... this situation calls for something different because He did flip some tables. I don't want to forget that. But when it came to respecting people, He was always one that showed respect for the person. And he let what he said and what he did and how he loved be what guided his interaction, not a harshness or being rude or coarse.

 It was always with a grace. And I think that's something to remember for us as well, because I'm sure these conversations are just getting started.

Takeaway #5

Number five, don't allow other people's expectations, urgency, or ambitions to override your own.

 Embrace and understand that there are seasons for stepping forward, stepping away, and returning. And this one kind of broke my heart a bit. It was really sad to hear Darlene Graham's concession speech.

 Now, her brother was Lindsay Graham. He passed earlier this year and she was, Asked, two days, y'all, two days. After he had passed away, if she would take over his seat.

 And then after that, to run for office. And in her concession speech, she said, The ratio did they have a lot of work to do. She was sad that she lost.

 But even more so, she really missed her brother. And that she wished he was still here. Now, regardless of politics, says, I'm not arguing that on the politics on this point, her personal politics.

 When you allow someone else to rush you through your grief. When you allow other people's expectations, their urgency, their selfish ambitions, to override your own need for rest. For healing, for recovery, to properly grieve.

 You set yourself up for failure. You sacrifice yourself on the altar of someone else's priorities. And that's unfair to you.

 And it doesn't put you in a position where You can take care of the self the way you take care of yourself the way you need to. I'm speaking about some of this from experience. And To hear the pain in her voice when she said that, It was striking.

 Because she had one of the closest people in her life pass away. And before funeral arrangements. Were finalized.

 She was being sworn into office. to fulfill that seat, to save, quote unquote, that seat for the party. And I just thought about how callous, how careless, how selfish it was to ask her to do that. And to have this immense pressure to continue when I'm sure everything in her was screaming to stop.

 Because her world had changed. Forever. And she was not even given time to process that.

 Now, as a comparison, maybe comparison's not the best word, as an alternative. Or another option to this. We look at now governor elect Keisha Lance Bottoms.

 She was mayor of Atlanta, revered, well loved, successful. And after her 1st term. She decided she needed a break.

 She had gone through the pandemic. She'd have gone through. Racial reconciliation during and after COVID.

 She was dealing with some of the issues from a prior administration. And for all intents and purposes, she was tired. And it had been a rocky road.

 Although she handled it well. And she decided not to run for reelection. And to take a break.

 And she did just that. She rested. She recovered.

 And she came back. And is now governor. And I think we can see The difference in there.

 Sometimes because you are great at what you do. Or it is an important juncture in time. People can encourage you to take a step that's not in your best interest.  What we have to remember is to pause and pray. To ask God, what is your will in this moment? How am I supposed to handle that?

 What should I do next? and then move forward? We saw an example of that of serving well, taking a step back to rest and reassess, and then coming back and experiencing success, experiencing success. in a new way.

 And we also saw an example of grief. of allowing work to take the space that grief should hold. And then having an overwhelming sadness. Take its presence.

 When the work ends. And so those were 2 Approaches. That.  Were very interesting to see. take place in real time. And again, just that reminder that things happen in seasons, and it's okay to step away. If you need to.

Takeaway #6

All right, our next point, number six, wrong motives can lead to unexpected, and unfavorable outcomes. It's a reminder that selfish intentions won't win, even if they feel like they do in the moment. God has a way of leveling that thing out.

The mid-decade push to redraw congressional districts was unconventional and political, to be honest.

 Norms are, excuse me, lines are normally only redrawn to adjust and provide proper representation after the decennial census, and it's done at that time because the census confirms changes in population. Or it confirms that population has stayed the same.

 That lets you know how the districts need to be drawn to make sure that they have the right number of people inside of their boundaries. When parties at the state level pushed to redraw these congressional districts, mid-decade, it was an unprecedented change, an unprecedented act, because data had not adjusted at that point. It's not in line with convention. It was political. It was meant to mitigate the damage of midterm elections.

 The Republican party's approval rating was trending downward, and they wanted to create some protection against how the election might go for midterms this year. Texas is one of the states that went through the process to redraw congressional districts.

 Interestingly enough, it backfired. Only one of the redrawn districts flipped. And the party that pushed this through actually lost wo seats. that they already had.

 So, It ended up being a net loss for the Republican Party. I didn't research, I will be honest, the other states. But from what I heard anecdotally, It was similar in other states.

 And so this big push to mitigate damage, to gain a political advantage, backfired. And The proven system actually held true. Voters still showed up regardless of the redrawn districts.

 And made sure. That their voices were heard.

Takeaway #7

And number seven, our final one.

 This is more. Of a question to reflect and think. What's next?

 Will the party in power focus on enforcement or restoration? How will they decide to lead? Winning elections, is a victory. It creates an opportunity, but leadership determines what will happen next, and how that victory is leveraged for long term impact.

 So now that we're, For most in the clear on what the election results are, We have the question of where will the party shift its focus? When January arrives and newly elected officials are sworn in, will they focus on enforcement to correct what they believe is bad behavior? Or will they focus on restoration, to reinstate lost rights, liberties, and privileges that have been eroded over the last few years. The choice that they make will not only shape the next two years. it will shape the decades that happen beyond it.

 So I'm interested to see if they will place it on one or the other. If they'll split it, If they will tier it and do it in sequence. Really interested to see where they will place their focus. and how they will choose to lead, and if the promises that were made during this election cycle come to fruition during their tenure in office.

Okay. So now that we've talked about the takeaways and reflections from what actually happened in the election, let's go to like a part two.

 What does the 2026 midterm election mean? For me and you?

Reflection #1

 First, I want for us to look at this as if we were experiencing this in our business. If we were the ones, we've seen people in office with power, with influence, with the ability to impact long term have a referendum on their leadership.

 Basically they had have the people that they serve say, "We are unhappy. We are displeased. We do not like how you're leading. We do not like the current conditions. We are not happy. We want change."

 So in our business, in our life, in our leadership, what if we were asked this question: "What if the response I'm receiving is the information I need to lead differently?" Are you listening? What have your clients said to you lately?

Are they responding to your products? Are they engaging with you? Do they enjoy one service, tool, or event over others? And are you taking time to listen and create solutions that solve their problems and give them the ability to leverage opportunities? Are you matching their learning and leadership styles?

If you haven't, this is your invitation to ask them, and truly slow down enough, to listen. Figure out what fits, and what you can implement in your business to better serve the people that God has called you to. If they say they prefer intimate gatherings, but you envision only large scale events, there's a mismatch there. Either who you're serving is not the audience that you should be, or maybe the idea you have for grand scale is for a different audience or a different delivery mechanism than what the client you have now actually needs. There should be some things that you tweak to be able to meet them where they are now.

Reflection #2

All right, number two:Am I okay laying the groundwork and not being the one who may get the final glory?

Ask yourself, what is my role?

Now this one may hurt, may step on some toes, may hurt some egos, may bruise some hearts, may cause one little sad tear to roll slowly down your left cheek.

 Sometimes in a sharing our expertise, our experience, our education, our network, our lessons learned, our clients, customers, or mentees may reach the goal we set for ourselves before we get there. Or they may reach the goal that we've set for ourselves instead of us.

 And we have to ask, Are we okay being the one that prepares? If God allows someone else to enjoy the increase?

That's a difficult question, right?  

It's a hard question to handle. Because sometimes if you are pouring out and you're sharing, then you see someone else that you're helping reach the milestone that you want to, you may question, well, why am I not there? Why is it difficult for me to do that for myself?

 Think about it. They have the privilege and the luxuryof your 5, 10, 20, 25, 30 years of experience to use, to leapfrog forward. They take all that you know, all that you've experienced, all that you've learned, all that you have shared, all of the networks and resources that you've compiled and shared with them, and they pair it with their unique gifting, experience, expertise, education, and network. And they're able to multiply what you had, what you have created, and reach a milestone faster.

Now that's not because they are so much greater than you, or that you are not capable or able to do it. It's because they have the benefit of you as a resource.

 They have the benefit of you in their corner. They have the benefit of you laying a foundation. They did not have to figure out the materials, the cost, the design, the construction, the curing, none of that was a part of their responsibility. All they had to do was build from the structure you had already created.

At times that can cause friction in how we view ourselves, how we view that person, how we view the situation, and how we view God. It can make us say, "Now, I've done all this work, and then what happens? The outcome literally bypasses me and goes to someone else. "

In those moments, we have to ask God what is my role here? Am I the king maker? Am I the support? Am I the Jonathan? Am I the Barnabas?  Am I the David to Solomon in this situation. Am I the John the Baptist?  And someone else is the Jesus in this narrative? I hesitate with that one, but just so the point is clear, if you're not familiar with the other references, you will get that one.

The main question here is can you handle being the forerunner and not the front runner? Can you handle being the forerunner and not the frontrunner?

Can God trust you with preparing the way? With breaking the barrier. With opening the door. With getting the nation, to the boundary to cross into the promised land, ven if you don't take that journey with them.

That's not an easy question to answer, and it's not one that you may answer quickly, because that question carries weight. It carries a responsibility. It carries a selflessness. It carries the ability to check your ego. And It is a different responsibility and a different ministry than the ones we are often shown.

 We are normally programmed to be the one in front, to be the one that moves forward, to be the one in the spotlight. But can we handle being the forerunner?

I'm going to do another conversation on that because I have a lot of thoughts and that one has been on on my list for a while.

 A few items in this reflection are things that I want to talk about more deeply. And we'll get to it. You can let me know your favorite one.

 Just drop me a comment or an email and I'll add it to the list.

Reflection #3

All right, and our final one, number three. What is God allowing to get my attention and make me look at things differently. What is God allowing? To get my attention and make me look at things differently. Ask yourself: "What needs a second look?"

So take a moment. Clear your mind. Think about the last few weeks, months, or years. What has God allowed? Good, bad, or neutral to get your attention? What is he asking you to begin? To continue, to change, to release, or to pause.

 How can you apply that lesson to your leadership, your life, and your business?

What has God allowed to get your attention?  Sometimes we say Satan is doing this. The devil's doing that. I don't know why people just don't understand. What if it is God that is allowing these things to happen?

Allowing you to experience something so amazing it blows your mind. So bad it breaks your heart. So neutral that it feels boring; it feels like you are stuck. What is he allowing to get your attention? So think about that.

 In that, in that good, that bad, that neutral. What do you think it is that He's asking you to look at differently? Is there something He needs you to stop?  Is it something you're doing that's hindering you? Is it something you need to begin that can open up new opportunity.

 Is it something you need to continue and put more effort behind it? So you get out of feeling stuck and you gain momentum. Is it something you need to change?

 Is your behavior off somewhere? Are your routines out of alignment? Is it something that you can adjust that could allow you to live better, to lead well, to have greater impact? Or is there something you need to release? What have you been carrying that is weighing you down?

 What have you been carrying that's hindering you from showing up the way you need to? Is it people pleasing? Are you making decisions based off of other people's expectations instead of what you actually need to be healthy and whole?

 What do you need to pause? Is there something that for a season, you may need to lay down and let it rest so that you can hear God clearly about what's next? So that you can heal? So that you can discover yourself again?

 Once you have that, how can you apply that lesson to your leadership? How can it help you lead yourself better? To keep your promise to yourself? To have better habits? To improve your health? To lead more consistently? In your life, how is that impacting your relationships? How's it impacting your finances?

In your business, are you operating as efficiently as you can? Are you putting your focus in the places that would allow you to have the greatest revenue and the greatest harmony with your business mission?

Take a 2nd look. And see what God may be asking you. to do.

Wrap Up All right, y'all. Those are my 2026 midterm election reflections and takeaways. And some notes at the end about what those lessons mean for you, what they mean for me, and how we live and how we lead, and to make sure that we do it well. I'd love to hear your thoughts and your comments. I'm sure you could hear the excitement in my voice going through this.

 I am a former government professor, attorney, and legislative liaison. So all things policy.

 In government, things like this piqued* my interest, I was like a little kid on the 1st day of school, on election night, watching all of the polls, reading the articles and the updates, checking the maps, looking at the associated press website.

It has been a week and I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I've enjoyed seeing people be excited about the process again.  

No matter where they are on the spectrum politically, people were engaged and excited and passionate and involved. Y'all, people came out and voted.

 We took part and we took back this process. We're not letting people exhaust us to the point that we disengage. We are engaging.

 And I guess we're "sick and tired of being sick and tired" as one of my favorite civil rights icons would say (Fannie Lou Hamer). And we did something about it. On all sides of the political spectrum, all parties, everybody came out.

 So whether they felt threatened, whether they felt frightened, that they were angry, or whether people just wanted change. We showed up and we made our voices heard. And that, for me, was one of the best takeaways from this election.

I know we see things differently. We won't ever, all agree until God comes back, but it was so good to see our nation riled up for the right reasons. to be engaged in this process.

For democracy as an ideal, to be lived out by the people, to take back ownership of our right to vote, of our process. Even in the face of actions that have tried to minimize the vote by eroding Civil Rights legislation and by gerrymandering districts, people showed up, and we voted. And that is what makes me the happiest, that we were involved.

 And I vote, I do my best to pick and support the candidates, I believe, will do a great job. I don't fully support either party, so let me be clear there. The only one I support unequivocally, is God. And that's who I believe is in charge.  

I take my frustrations to Him and we have a very honest relationship through prayer. I don't think either party has everything that we need. I think we have to be careful with assigning them the ownership of the outcome of our government as well.

 Pick the best candidate. Do your research, vote for the propositions that you believe in. And Show Up.

 Show up, and don't let anybody bully you. into voting a certain way. Into participating a certain way. Vote.

 Do your research. Pray. And trust God that you're making the best decision that you can.

 And remember, If people fail, God is always in control. He allows rulers to be set up. and to be taken down (Daniel 2:21). And so as long as we are aligned with Him and in His Will, I trust that we will be protected.

That has been my prayers, as things have become more difficult in this country, that God would allow a Passover blessing on His people. That He would protect us from harm, from danger, and from calamity. That He would be with us, He would love us, He would care for us, and His presence would be tangible.

And when things get difficult, that we will remember who He is. If we forget, or we have difficulty remembering, we have difficulty holding on to our faith in the moments where it feels like life is suffocating us and things are falling apart, that other saints and other believers would come to our rescue.

 That they would remind us of who God is. They would pray with us and for us, and on our behalf in those days where we may not be able to pray ourselves. They would send us songs so that we could pray in the prisons that we feel we are experiencing, just like Paul did, and that those doors would swing open from our worship (Acts 16).

That God would cover us as we move through our day-to-day lives. where everyone does not believe what we do, but that e would give us a grace to represent Him, a grace and strength to show up every day and do our best, to believe as best we can in that moment. Trusting He would be faithful to meet us every morning with new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23).

 That he would remind us that he is there. And that there is nothing that can separate us from his love. Nothing that can separate us from his power, from his sovereignty. Or from his presence. (Romans 8:38-39 and Psalm 139:10).That He is always with us. He is always in control, especially when things are out of control.

 He has given us community; we do not have to walk this alone. When we are weak, part of Him sharing His strength is in the community that we share. That is the other believers that we get to do life with in our families, in our churches, in our small groups, and even in communities like this with other business owners that are doing their best every day to surrender to His will, to lead with integrity, and to serve with excellence.

PRAYER

So, Lord, I thank You for the lessons in this election.

 I thank you for the beauty of how scripture can speak to every situation. I thank You for how you've shown yourself in what we may have felt as oppressive times, what we may feel now is a hopeful midpoint, and how things may continue to move forward.

Lord, be with us and keep us. Protect our hearts, protect our minds. Give us the burden of integrity and serving well. Help us to show up as reflections of You. No matter what the election outcomes are, no matter what the economy looks like, and no matter what our circumstances are, help our faith to grow to an unshakable point in You, where our foundation is sure, our confidence is and our community is strong.

 Where we don't forsake to assemble, to remind each other to learn about Your Word, to worship You, and to give You honor in every circumstance.

 Give us the grace to move forward in these outcomes. Give us the wisdom to lead our businesses, ourselves, and our families well during this transition and over the next two years.

Help us to be pillars in our community where your reflection is sure, where people can know there are positive places they can go, there are business leaders they can trust, because The One who guides them never changes. He's always sure, He's always in control, and He's never subject to an election.

We love you, Lord, and we thank you. We ask that you would be with us, that you would be with the new leaders.

 Help them to remember that You are the one that is in control. You are The One that has allowed them to be reelected, to be elected, to be put into office. Help them to remember their role is to serve and to lead well.

 And God, if they forget, help them remember, in no uncertain terms, who they report to and who they are responsible to.

We love you, Lord. We trust you. We ask that you will protect stability and peace in this transition period is in your hands.

 In Your Son, Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

As promised, here is the quick review for our TLDR readers.

Well, all right, y'all, that's it.  This is the longest one I have ever done. to this point. Um, And I enjoyed it. So I hope you did too.

 Would love to hear your feedback. Let me know which point resonated with you, what you'd like to hear more, and I'll talk to you soon. Have a good one, y'all.

If you need support before the next one, I'm always an email away.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lorin Carter

The Corporate Consultant