For Republicans, the 2026 midterms look a lot like 2006 | Merrill Matthews Oct 14, 2026 Oct 14, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Merrill Matthews kAmp #6AF3=:42? AC6D:56?E :D 724:?8 9:D D64@?5 >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D]k^AmkAmw:D A@AF=2C:EJ :D :? E96 E2?<[ :? 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E96 6G6 @7 E96 6=64E:@?D[ :E DE@@5 2E bgT] %CF>AVD E@52J :D 2=>@DE E96 D2>6i 23@FE bgT :? #62=r=62C!@==:?8VD 2G6C286]k^AmkAmp >2;@C C62D@? 7@C qFD9VD D=F>A[ 32C6=J EH@ J62CD 27E6C 96 H@? C66=64E:@?[ H2D xC2B] ~? E96 6G6 @7 E96 |2C49 a__b :?G2D:@?[ 23@FE EH@\E9:C5D @7 p>6C:42?D DFAA@CE65 E96 H2C] qJ E96 D64@?5 92=7 @7 a__e[ 23@FE EH@\E9:C5D @AA@D65 :E]k^Am kAm%CF>AVD H2C H:E9 xC2? ?6G6C 925 E92E <:?5 @7 DFAA@CE E@ =@D6] p ?6H !6H #6D62C49 r6?E6C DFCG6J 7@F?5 ;FDE 2 E9:C5 @7 p>6C:42?D 2AAC@G6 @7 9@H 96VD 92?5=:?8 :E \\ 2?5 #6AF3=:42? DFAA@CE :D D=:AA:?8[ E@@]k^Am kAm%96 AC6D:56?E C6A@CE65=J 6IA64E65 xC2? E@ 8@ E96 H2J @7 '6?6KF6=2] p7E6C E96 y2?F2CJ C2:5 E92E 42AEFC65 '6?6KF6=2? !C6D:56?E }:4@=áD |25FC@ 2?5 E96 yF?6 a_ad DEC:<6D @? xC2?VD ?F4=62C D:E6D[ 2? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? D@FC46 E@=5 pI:@D[ %CF>A QD2H >F=E:A=6 564:D:G6 BF:4< G:4E@C:6DQ 2?5 2DDF>65 E@AA=:?8 xC2?VD C68:>6 H@F=5 36 ;FDE 2D 62DJ]k^Am Early voting in the midterm election began Oct. 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, with comparisons to 2006. Erik S. Lesser/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource kAmqFD9VD E62> 925 :ED @H? C@DJ 7@C642DE] q67@C6 E96 xC2B :?G2D:@?[ ':46 !C6D:56?E s:4< r96?6J AC65:4E65 E96 H2C H@F=5 =2DE QH66<D C2E96C E92? >@?E9D]Qk^Am kAm%96C6 2C6 6G6? >@C6 A2C2==6=D] x?7=2E:@? 92D 366? 2 96252496 7@C %CF>A \\ 2?5 7@C 4@?DF>6CD] *6D[ :?7=2E:@? 9:E h]`T F?56C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? :? yF?6 a_aa] qFE :E 4@@=65 E@ bT 3J y2?F2CJ a_ad[ H96? %CF>A E@@< @77:46]k^Am kAmx? pF8FDE[ :E H2D 324< FA E@ b]cTkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm[ H:E9 82D AC:46D 5@:?8 >F49 @7 E96 52>286j 4@C6 :?7=2E:@?[ H9:49 DEC:AD @FE 7@@5 2?5 6?6C8J[ 76== E@ :ED =@H6DE =6G6= D:?46 a_a`k^DA2?m] kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp3@FE f :? `_ p>6C:42?D H@CCJ E96 xC2? H2C H:== AFD9 82D AC:46D 9:896C]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmx? a__e[ :?7=2E:@? 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E96J H@? 3J E92E J62C]k^AmkAms@ E96D6 A2C2==6=D AC65:4E 2 3=F6 H2G6n w2C5 E@ E6==] qFE #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 AF==:?8 >@?6J @FE @7 C246D E96J ?@H 4@?D:56C =@DE[ =:<6 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2VD $6?2E6 C246[ 2?5 >@G:?8 :E :?E@ C65 DE2E6D E92E D9@F=5 36 D276]k^Am kAmx? a__e[ #6AF3=:42?D =@DE E96:C >2;@C:EJ :? r@?8C6DD] s6>@4C2ED 82:?65 b` w@FD6 D62ED[ 7@C 2 4@>7@CE23=6 abb[ 2?5 E@@< E96 $6?2E6[ A:4<:?8 FA D:I D62ED 7@C 2 d`\D62E >2;@C:EJ E92E :?4=F565 EH@ :?56A6?56?ED]k^AmkAmx DE2J65 FA =2E6 @? 6=64E:@? ?:89E :? a__e[ H2E49:?8 @?6 4@>A6E:E:G6 C246 27E6C 2?@E96C 72== E@ E96 s6>@4C2ED] }@G] b 4@F=5 36 2? 6G6? =@?86C ?:89E 7@C #6AF3=:42?D]k^Am Matthews is the Texas state chair of Our Republican Legacy. He wrote this for USA TODAY via Reuters Connect. 0 comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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