Democratic enthusiasm in the 2026 primaries and what it could mean for midterm elections

ABC News found that Democratic momentum entering the final stretch of the 2026 midterm elections is showing up in primary turnout. An analysis of relative partisan participation in state primaries suggests Democrats are not only telling pollsters they’re more likely to vote and more enthusiastic, but that their voting patterns match that message. ABC reports that Democratic participation increased relative to Republicans in many places between 2022 and 2026. It measured relative turnout as Democratic votes divided by Republican votes and calculated the change by comparing 2026 to 2022 levels. In Wisconsin’s August gubernatorial primary, Democratic turnout was 1.61 times Republican. In Texas, relative Democratic primary turnout rose from 0.55 in 2022 to 1.07 in 2026.