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Democratic Backsliding Reaches Western Democracies, with U.S. Decline Unprecedented  V-Dem

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"It [2026 Midterms]'s going to be dominated by what party is making you safe and prosperous. It's not going to be dominated by subsidies [Trump's presidential actions]. It's going to be dominated by the big stuff."

“A chunk of [GOP voters] who put them in power in 2024 are Trump-specific voters; they will vote GOP down ballot when Trump is running but won’t turn out to vote for a typical congressman in a midterm when Trump isn’t running.”

"As we have seen, the president’s party almost always loses ground in the midterm election following his victory... [but] if Republicans are to have a serious chance of retaining control of the House, President Trump will have to improve his job approval significantly."

"If legal immigrants begin to be deported without having committed any crime [by Trump admin], get ready for Republicans to lose the [2026] midterms by a landslide."

“The President will help his Republican friends on Capitol Hill get reelected [in 2026 Midterms], and work to pick up new seats across the country.”

"President Trump is the main event for the party [2026 midterms]."

"Republicans have reason to worry that the president’s political decline will affect their performance in next year [2026]’s midterm elections."

“All these people that he [Trump] helps — he doesn’t help everybody — but for those he does, he’s a difference maker, and he’s certainly a turnout machine.”

"Whether congressional GOPers can turn things around for the ‘26 midterms is more dependent on Trump than ever."

“All of the kinds of things [Trump's] doing now will result in him losing—certainly losing the House of Representatives."

"The success or failure of the Grand Old Party (GOP) next year [2026 US Midterms] will be decided on the strength or weakness of President Trump’s coattails."

"What’s crazy is that the 2026 midterms are entirely in Trump’s control."

Will Donald Trump be a Primary Voting Factor in the 2026 U.S. Midterms?

The V-Dem Institute's 2026 Democracy Report classifies the U.S. as an electoral democracy rather than a liberal democracy, marking the first such downgrade in more than half a century, amid what researchers describe as a rapid concentration of power in the presidency.

The V-Dem Institute's 2026 Democracy Report classifies the U.S. as an electoral democracy rather than a liberal democracy, marking the first such downgrade in more than half a century, amid what researchers describe as a rapid concentration of power in the presidency.

V-Dem's report finds the U.S. Liberal Democracy Index score fell 24% in one year, dropping its global ranking from 20th to 51st place, with freedom of expression now at its lowest level since the end of World War II.

V-Dem's report finds the U.S. Liberal Democracy Index score fell 24% in one year, dropping its global ranking from 20th to 51st place, with freedom of expression now at its lowest level since the end of World War II.

The report states that 44 countries are trending toward autocracy while only 12 are becoming more democratic, with four of the world's five most populous nations — India, China, Indonesia and Pakistan — already classified as autocracies.

The report states that 44 countries are trending toward autocracy while only 12 are becoming more democratic, with four of the world's five most populous nations — India, China, Indonesia and Pakistan — already classified as autocracies.

V-Dem founder Staffan Lindberg said Trump "has achieved in only one year what" leaders in Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and India "took about 10 years to accomplish" in suppressing democratic institutions.

V-Dem founder Staffan Lindberg said Trump "has achieved in only one year what" leaders in Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and India "took about 10 years to accomplish" in suppressing democratic institutions.

The report identifies media self-censorship as a growing concern in nearly 40 countries including the U.S., and describes government censorship of media as a common tool used by leaders consolidating power.

The report identifies media self-censorship as a growing concern in nearly 40 countries including the U.S., and describes government censorship of media as a common tool used by leaders consolidating power.

Researchers note that 70% of autocratization trends in the modern era have been reversed, and that the Supreme Court and upcoming electoral cycles — particularly the 2026 midterms — could be decisive in shaping the U.S. democratic trajectory.

Researchers note that 70% of autocratization trends in the modern era have been reversed, and that the Supreme Court and upcoming electoral cycles — particularly the 2026 midterms — could be decisive in shaping the U.S. democratic trajectory.

U.S. Downgraded From Liberal Democracy for First Time

ReportU.S. findsDowngraded high-speedFrom dismantlingLiberal ofDemocracy democracyfor inFirst U.S.Time

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U.S. Downgraded From Liberal Democracy for First Time

ReportU.S. findsDowngraded high-speedFrom dismantlingLiberal ofDemocracy democracyfor inFirst U.S.Time

The Controversies

Graham

DeSantis

Brookings

Martino

Leavitt

Lauren

Wiles

Wolff

LSE

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

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