Healthcare, economy and the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill': Welcome to the midterms

If you're still unpacking results from the 2024 election, it's time to give up.

2026 is an election year.

Health care. The economy. The "One Big, Beautiful Bill." All are factors as voters go to the polls this fall.

However, Republicans are bullish on maintaining Senate control.

"I think you're going to see a remarkable 2026. I mean we're excited about the prospects for the economy," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Bret Baier.

But Thune is cautious.

"Typically there are headwinds in a midterm election," said Thune. "You can't convince people of something they don't feel."

"President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It's a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign (NRSC) to Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser.

Republicans hope that Democrats nominate controversial candidates.

"If I didn't know better, I would say that some of these folks are Republican plants. They're clearly from the loon wing of the Democratic Party," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., about some Democratic Senate hopefuls. 

"They tell us that Texas is red. They are lying. We're not," said Crockett. "Y'all ain't never tried it the J.C. way."

Graham Platner is a Democratic populist in Maine. He hopes to face Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me. - if he's able to defeat Gov. Janet Mills in the primary. Platner has a history of inflammatory posts online.

Platner claims he didn't know the symbolism of the tattoo at the time. He's since covered it up.

But Democrats think they can swipe some seats from the GOP.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is retiring. The Tar Heel State may represent the best overall pickup opportunity for Democrats.

And Democrats think former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, might be able to return to Washington by winning the state's other Senate seat this fall. 

Brown likely faces Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Husted to the Senate to succeed Vance when he left the Senate and became vice president. A former Ohio lieutenant governor, Husted has never campaigned statewide for Senate.

This is why Democrats are focused on your pocketbook and health care in 2026.

"We're going to get it done by getting it on some piece of legislation, or we're going to get it done by marching through into the midterms and winning," predicted Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

"So far, House Republicans have passed 413 bills. This year, we've codified 68 of President Trump's America First executive orders," said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. "We look forward to continuing all that work when we return in 2026, and we go into an epic midterm election cycle.

Epic is right.

Republicans tried to erect a political heat shield to deflect midterm norms. Republicans drew new, GOP-friendly districts in Texas and Missouri. But those districts are a lighter shade of red. That could dilute the GOP base vote as these districts as battlegrounds.

"We have to make sure that we've got an edge. This is a big deal, and we've gotta be politically smart. And I hate to say this, for a change," Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J. said on Fox News Channel. 

"Our focus is on the swing districts, the purple districts across the country," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). "It's why we expanded our map of offensive opportunities."

But it's risky if Democrats run candidates who are too progressive for certain seats.

Democrats plan investigations and subpoenas of the Trump administration if they win the House. One Democrat is eyeing the Pentagon.

A ruling requiring new districts could drastically upset the balance of power for this year's House contests.