Democrats are favored to win back the House—but don’t expect a 2006-style wave. Carrie Dan, managing editor of Cook Political Report, joins the show to break down the 2026 midterm map. We discuss why redistricting has already netted Republicans six to eight seats, why there are only 36 truly competitive races compared to 58 in 2018, what Democrats would need to see to gain 25 seats or more, how the Iran war and gas prices are quietly eroding Republican enthusiasm, and why the key swing voters this cycle aren’t white suburbanites—they’re Latinos in South Texas and South Florida.

Right Now with Perry Bacon: a twice-weekly show diving into U.S. politics, democracy, and the authoritarian threats facing America. Each episode, Perry strives to go beyond daily headlines and actually connect the dots to what’s happening in America.

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