In the wake of the 2026 midterm elections, political commentator Ben Shapiro expressed a stark assessment during a recent episode of the All-In podcast. He remarked that the early results were telling, suggesting that “the president was kind of on the ballot.”
Election Results Signal Change
Shapiro characterized the election night as “not an evening to remember,” noting the broader implications of the election results, which were still unfolding as his podcast aired from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. “I think that, honestly, the president said going in that the election was going to be a referendum on him, act like he’s on the ballot, and I think that, you know, the president was kind of on the ballot,” he stated.
Significant Wins for Democrats
The midterms saw substantial victories for Democrats in pivotal races across several states. In Texas, James Talarico made history by defeating Ken Paxton, marking the first time in 38 years that a Democrat has been elected as a senator from the state. Additionally, Gina Hinojosa triumphed over Greg Abbott to become Texas’s first Democratic governor in 36 years.
In South Carolina, the election results were equally groundbreaking, as Annie Andrews became both the first Democrat elected to the Senate from the state in over two decades and the first woman from South Carolina to achieve this honor.
Concerns for Republican Prospects
Despite Florida’s Republican stronghold, Shapiro highlighted the narrowness of the results there, noting, “Or the fact that Florida stayed red, but very, very, very closely. I mean, that’s my home state so I know that state very well.” Angie Nixon, a Democrat, faced defeat against Republican Ashley Moody in the U.S. Senate race, which Shapiro framed as a significant loss.
Overall, Shapiro declared, “It’s a wipeout for Republicans. There’s no way to sugarcoat that,” emphasizing the negative implications for the party moving forward. He expressed his concern that these outcomes could signal troubling trends leading into the next presidential election in 2028.
