More Than Spectators: How Eagles Engaged in the Historic 2026 Midterms

From its home in the nation’s capital, the American University community had far more than just a front-row seat to the 2026 midterm elections—Eagles engaged deeply from every angle. 

As the country processes the outcome, explore how AU made its mark on this historic election day.

Victors with Eagle Connections

• Former Sine Institute of Policy and Politics Fellows: Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D), 2021 fellow and 2025 distinguished lecturer, was elected to a second term; 2019 fellow Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) became the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate.

• Legal Eagles: Longtime congressional delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), WCL/JD ’94, became the first woman elected governor of the US Virgin Islands; Robert C. White Jr., WCL/JD ’07, was elected DC’s delegate to the House.

• Poised for the Gavel: Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), won reelection for the sixth time; the WCL professor emeritus likely be selected to chair the House Committee on the Judiciary—becoming the first Marylander in 200 years to do so.
• In the First State: Sarah McBride (D-DE), SPA/BA ’13, was reelected to Delaware’s lone House seat.
• Sweet 16: Jim McGovern (D-MA), CAS/BA ’81, SPA/MPA ’84, was elected for the 16th time, winning reelection in District 2 of Massachusetts.
• Here in the District: Paul Strauss (D-DC), SPA/BA ’86, WCL/JD ’93, won reelection as DC Shadow Senator.

On the Ground

• Dateline Detroit: Twenty-three students from the School of Public Affairs and School of Communication spent Election Day in the Wolverine State, reporting for The Washington Post through AU’s Battleground Michigan course.
• Assessing Voting Accessibility: Clare Rigney, WCL/JD ’27, conducted an accessibility survey at a Northwest DC voting center on Election Day. This fall, students in the Disability Rights Law Clinic have been contributing to ongoing efforts to ensure the ballot box remains accessible to voters with disabilities. 
• Local Coverage: WAMU 88.5—DC’s top radio station, which is owned and licensed by AU—reported on the outcomes of races in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. WAMU photographers were also on-site at polling places across the region to capture election day in photos. 

Campus Efforts

• “I Voted:” Staff in the Division of Student Affairs showed off their stickers after exercising their civic duty. AU staff and faculty were granted up to two hours of paid time to vote in person without using their accrued time off. 
• Live from Campus: The Kennedy Political Union hosted a nonpartisan election watch party in the Mary Graydon Student Center for students with complimentary food and refreshments. 
• A Free Ride: On the quad, the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement offered Lyft passes to student voters.  

Analyzing the Results

• What Just Happened? As part of its “If You Can Keep It” democracy series, WAMU 88.5’s flagship program 1A broadcast a 2026 election roundup on down-ballot races across the country. 
• The Big Picture: On her show, 2025 Sine Institute for Policy and Politics Fellow and veteran journalist Tara Palmeri, SOC/BA ’08, discussed early results with political insiders; 2026 Sine Fellow Anna Palmer, founder and CEO of Punchbowl News, reacted to a “Democratic tsunami” with cofounder Jake Sherman. 
• Wallets Drive Turnout: College of Arts and Sciences economics professor Kara Reynolds spoke with ABC Newsabout why the economy was a top issue for voters—and evaluated candidate plans to address the affordability crisis. 
• The Next Congress: School or Public Affairs professor David Miller spoke with Reuters about Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who is poised to become the first Black Speaker of the US House of Representatives after a “blue wave.”
• Endorsements Backfire: Tom Kahn, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, spoke with Reuters about why Senate candidates handpicked by President Donald Trump lost their races. 
• The Next Two Years: College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of History Allan Lichtman spoke with AFP about what the final stint the Trump White House could look like.