With less than 100 days until the US midterm elections, the Democrats face a final opportunity to halt the rapid erosion of American democracy, according to historian Timothy Garton Ash. A landslide victory is essential to overcome Republican efforts to rig the electoral process, as the country marks its 250th anniversary amid unprecedented democratic decline.
Democracy at Its Worst in 60 Years
The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at Gothenburg University reports that in 2025, the US experienced one of the most rapid declines in liberal democracy on record. The Democracy Report 2026 states that democracy in the USA is now at its worst in 60 years, echoing the fears of anti-federalists like Patrick Henry about an overmighty president abusing executive power.
V-Dem analysts highlight that in 2025, Trump issued 225 executive orders, while the Republican-controlled Congress passed just 49 laws, mostly minor. The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, promoting the unitary executive theory, is over halfway to completion, aided by Supreme Court rulings.
Electoral Manipulation Tactics
Trump's playbook includes fixing the next election through partisan gerrymandering, restricting mail-in ballots, and demanding documentary proof of citizenship, all aimed at disenfranchising Democratic-leaning voters. A close result could trigger Republican attempts to disqualify Democratic victors.
Hence, a landslide is imperative. As Hungary demonstrated this spring, widespread popular revulsion can sweep away autocratic obstacles, ensuring an irrefutable result.
Trump's Self-Inflicted Wounds
Trump himself is the biggest driver of an anti-Trump landslide. His tariffs and Middle East war have increased living costs, notably petrol prices. The war against Iran has cost $37.5bn, with an additional $67.1bn requested. Popular opposition to the war nears 60%, matching his disapproval rating. Corruption scandals, including a $2bn enrichment of his family, further fuel unpopularity, highlighted by the FIFA president's plan to sell World Cup stakes to Joshua Kushner's fund.
Democratic Challenges
Despite an open goal, Democrats lack a unifying leader like Hungary's Péter Magyar. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, at 75, fails to inspire. Energy lies with democratic socialists like Zohran Mamdani, but their appeal in swing states like Michigan is uncertain. Ezra Klein suggests diversity could be a strength, but missteps in Senate races might cost Democrats a chance to flip the Senate.
The Stakes for Democracy
At stake is not the Democrats' future but democracy itself. A normal midterm change in House control is the minimum needed to check erosion, through Congress's power over funding, investigation, and impeachment. A landslide would trigger a psychological shift, as Trump fears being a 'loser'. He will likely try to prevent or delegitimize a Democratic House, but it would mark the end of the beginning.
With little more than 90 days left, the imperative is clear. As Garton Ash notes, the US needs a Hungarian-style landslide to overwhelm the obstacles and save democracy.
