The 2026 election is (mostly) over!
Let the analyzing of what the 2026 election meant begin!
My friend and I spent the better part of an hour sifting through the results from Tuesday night — touching on everything from J.D. Vance’s slipping stock to what the 2028 Democratic ticket could/should look like.
A full rundown — with time stamps! — of our conversation is below.
)0:00–05:30 Election night behind the scenes: Decision Desk HQ’s vote-counting operation, “The Projection” livestream, and the challenge of absorbing so many major results at once.
05:30–11:30 How big was the Democratic wave? Lauren Boebert’s likely loss, Richard Hudson’s defeat, and why wave elections sweep away seemingly safe incumbents.
11:30–16:00 The two unresolved Senate races: Where Mississippi and Alaska stand, provisional ballots, ranked-choice voting, and the possibility of Democrats reaching 56 Senate seats.
16:00–21:00 JD Vance’s predicament: His response to the defeat, his complicated relationship with Trump, and why the election weakened his position heading toward 2028.
21:00–27:30 Can Democrats keep Texas competitive? The significance of their statewide sweep, James Talarico and Adam Hamilton’s appeal, and the case for economic populism and cultural moderation.
27:30–33:00 Who can Democrats nominate in 2028? The liabilities of a California or New York nominee, Gavin Newsom’s challenge, and why being too online can hurt candidates in both parties.
33:00–39:30 A new Democratic generation—and a warning: Potential tickets featuring Jon Ossoff, Rob Sand, Talarico, Mark Kelly, and Raphael Warnock; why rejecting Trump doesn’t necessarily mean embracing Democrats.
39:30–46:30 Ron DeSantis makes his move: Florida’s Republican resilience, his “extinction level event” assessment, and whether his record can overcome his limitations as a campaigner.
46:30–51:30 Who inherits the Republican Party? Ted Cruz, movement conservatives, and the difficulty of finding a successor with Trump’s charisma and political reach.
51:30–57:30 The early 2028 field: Prediction markets, Ossoff’s momentum, Josh Shapiro’s potential, and why Marco Rubio could be a formidable Republican contender.
57:30–61:30 Will Pete Hegseth be Trump’s fall guy? Why a post-election firing looks plausible, the Iran war blame game, and Republican dissatisfaction with Hegseth.
61:30–63:48 Hegseth’s possible Senate escape hatch: Tennessee’s appointment politics, wrestler turned mayor Glenn Jacobs, and a closing detour into wrestling nostalgia.