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J.J. Kramer - Midterm Mania
Power and Politics in the U.S. Midterm Elections of 2026
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Why I wrote this book? Because midterms are both pivotal and unpredictable. They’re where voter moods shift, where political talent is tested, and where the future of U.S. democracy often takes shape. Yet for many people—inside and outside the United States—the rules, stakes, and outcomes of midterms feel opaque. Midterm Mania's intention is to lift that fog. It explains what’s at stake in 2026, why the U.S. has so many elections, how party systems evolve, and what issues will drive voters during the cycle of these midterms. The book also demystifies hot-button topics like gerrymandering, voter turnout, money in politics, and the so-called “midterm curse.”
The “mania” in the title points to both the substance and the spectacle: a media ecosystem that treats every poll like breaking news, campaigns that stretch into permanent horse races, and a public conversation that feels like constant crisis. But beneath the frenzy lies the real question—what is actually at stake, how does the system work, and why do midterms matter so deeply? The tone is light, clear, and sometimes playful—because understanding politics shouldn’t feel like reading a textbook. The style mixes sharp analysis with engaging explanations, designed for readers who are curious but don’t want to drown in jargon.
Who should read it?
• Americans looking for context beyond daily headlines.
• European readers who follow the U.S. politics and want a handy explainer.
At its core, Midterm Mania is not just about elections; it’s about how power in America shifts, survives, and sometimes surprises.
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To be published in 2026 | Paperback | ca. 144 pages | ca. 20,000 words
Full English manuscript available in fall 2025 
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J.J. Kramer (1980) is a Dutch author, analyst, and speaker with a deep fascination for the American Civil War and American politics. In 2024, his Dutch book How U.S. Presidential Elections Really Work was published, offering readers an in-depth look at the U.S. presidential election system from historical, political, and legal perspectives.
With Midterm Mania, Kramer turns his attention to America’s midterm elections, bringing the same analytical clarity but in a more compact and accessible style. Writing as both a European and a self-described moderate independent, he provides a neutral perspective from a distance—close enough to grasp the details, far enough to see the bigger picture. This allows him to cut through partisan noise and explain what’s really at stake.
Beyond his writing, Kramer works as an election analyst and corporate governance specialist. He is frequently invited to speak at conferences, book events, and media programs, offering commentary on U.S. politics for a broad audience. His mix of professional expertise, international outlook, and accessible style makes him a trusted guide for readers who want to understand not only how American elections work, but also why they matter.
Chapter 1. What? Elections? Again?
Chapter 2. The road to 2026, what do I need to know?
2.1 Why midterms?
2.2 What’s at stake in 2026?
2.3 Why are there only two parties?
2.4 What is the ‘midterm curse’?
2.5 Why the mania?
Chapter 3. What is the big picture of American politics?
3.1 What is a party system?
3.2 What are the first five party systems?
3.3 Au revoir to the sixth party system?
3.4 Are we already in the seventh party system?
Chapter 4. Red and blue states?
4.1 What are the ‘Trump-25’?
4.2 What are the ‘blue bastions’?
4.3 What are the ‘swing six’?
4.4 What is the ‘big sort’?
4.5 The new party of the people?
Chapter 5. Why Congress?
5.1 Why are there two Chambers?
5.2 What does the U.S. Senate do?
5.3 How many senators are there?
5.4 How much is a Senate majority?
5.5 What is a ‘filibuster’?
5.6 What is the current composition of the Senate?
5.7 Who is up for election in 2026?
5.8 What does the U.S. House do?
5.9 How many members are there?
5.10 What Is the current composition of the House?
Chapter 6. The political landscape in 2026
6.1 A silver lining for the Democrats?
6.2 Political Context
6.3 Legacy and approval of the sitting president
6.4 Legacy and approval of Congress
6.5 What is on voter’s minds?
Chapter 7. What are the 2028 Senate battlegrounds?
7.1 Which Senate seats are safe in 2026?
7.2 What are the Senate battleground states?
7.3 What could happen?
7.4 What if there’s a wave?
7.5 What’s the historical perspective?
Chapter 8. What are the 2028 House battlegrounds?
8.1 Which House seats are safe?
8.2 Why ‘gerrymander’?
8.3 New gerrymanders in 2026?
8.4 What are the House battleground seats?
8.5 True toss-ups?
8.6 What are the possible outcomes?
8.7 What if there’s a wave?
8.8 What’s the historical perspective?
Chapter 9. Interlude – If power shifts
9.1 What are the combinations?
9.2 What happens if the Senate flips?
9.3 What happens if the House flips?
9.4 What does it mean for 2028?
Chapter 10. Other political races
10.1 What offices are elected?
10.2 Governors on the ballot?
10.3 State legislatures and the trifecta?
10.4 Where are the battlegrounds?
10.5 Election of judges?
10.6 Local elections: power close to home?
10.7 Ballot measures?
Chapter 11. How…?
11.1 …do experts predict the outcomes?
11.2 …do foreign countries run elections?
11.3 …does money talk?
11.4 …do parties get out the vote?
11.5 …about the polls?
Chapter 12. In closing
12.1 Setting the scene for the presidential elections in 2028?
12.2 When, where, and how can I vote?
Chapter 13. Sources