U.S. politicians and interest groups reacted to Democratic wins in a trio of races on Tuesday, the first major elections since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, giving the embattled party new momentum ahead of next year’s congressional midterms.

In his first Truth Social post commenting on the election results, Trump suggested that the reasons why Democrats won is because he was not on the ballot and because of the government shutdown. Trump has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.

Exit polls in the 2025 races in New Jersey, Virginia, New York City and California showed Trump and the economy were on the minds of voters.

Here are four factors to consider as the 2026 midterm elections unfold. President Donald Trump and Republicans won a comfortable 2024 election by promising to curb inflation and the rising costs of goods and services, including groceries, gas and housing.

Vice President JD Vance voted in Cincinnati’s election in which his half brother lost his bid for mayor, voter records show. Vance didn’t come into town to cast his vote in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood where he's registered. He voted via an absentee ballot, according to the voter registration list from the Board of Elections.

SPRINGFIELD — Senate President Don Harmon will not have to pay a nearly $10 million fine for violating state campaign finance laws last year after the State Board of Elections deadlocked Tuesday on approving the fine.

The House on Tuesday took the rare step of publicly reprimanding one of its own members — retiring Democratic Rep. Chuy García — for what some of his colleagues have described as an attempt to subvert the election of his successor in Congress.

A partisan vote from the Illinois State Board of Elections means the Oak Park Democrat's political committee won't be hit with a massive fine for allegedly accepting donations beyond campaign financing law.