It is wildly uncommon for a president to have approval ratings this low in the first two years of the presidency. The second Trump administration’s baseless foreign wars, the corresponding economic impact and failing message discipline have severely diminished his party’s prospects for the 2026 midterms. Unencumbered by the institutionalists that filled his first administration, Trump can make all the rash decisions he pleases while his sycophantic cabinet follows along dutifully. Since the first Bill Clinton presidency, Presidential approval closely tracks midterm success for the President’s party. So, despite gerrymandering, election interference laws and Republican supermajorities in swing states, the 2026 midterms abound with opportunities for Democrats to gain seats across the House, Senate, governorships and state legislatures — recovering agency in our nation’s politics.
The moment for Democrats to capitalize on this political environment is upon us, and young voters have a part to play in the mission, not only at the polls. As students at a University that the administration has targeted, Brunonians should capitalize on the many ways we can contribute to the midterms season — whether that is on a campaign or in everyday political discourse.
Brown students have a tangible stake in the outcome of the midterms. The Trump administration has taken aim at Brown’s funding, attempting to handicap our ability to engage in meaningful research. Visas of international students across the country have been terminated, limiting our ability to attract brilliant students from across the world because of the barriers to entry. Possibly most egregiously, the administration has imprisoned and detained students for using their constitutional right to protest and speak out against injustice. In the pursuit of “preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry,” Brown students must push back against these encroachments and push for new leadership in Washington.
Apart from the Trump administration’s most public attacks towards University students, they have also targeted Brown in more implicit ways, taking aim at professional development programs for recent graduates like the Fulbright and Peace Corps. At a time when the job market is impenetrable, with workers feeling less optimistic about job prospects than they were in the depths of the pandemic, post-grad programs are a lifeline for students leaving Brown and looking for experience to grow their skills. As a top three Fulbright producer for the past 10 years and a strong Peace Corps record, Brown students stand to be uniquely impacted by these attacks. Also, about 20% of students work in the public and non-profit sectors post-graduation, and the tenuous status of NGO funding and federal employment could leave hundreds of graduates with an uncertain future. Brown students should not only feel empowered by the difference we can make in this pivotal year, we need to understand the stakes this moment holds for our future.
This summer, campaigns will be in full force across the country. With new organizing programs like the DNC’s 50-state strategy, opportunities to volunteer and get involved will be abundant. From state legislative races to congressional elections, the force of organizing will be needed everywhere. Make phone calls, knock on doors and volunteer with campaign initiatives in your area.
Brown students come from all 50 states, our capacity to organize for causes we believe in has been evident over the past year and we follow in a legacy of demanding a fairer, freer and just government. This summer, let us use our power to push for change across our country. A failure to act gives Republicans the opportunity to react to shifting political headwinds and reconsolidate their power — if Democrats lose these midterms, it could lock in courts, legislatures and voting laws for another decade. With the power to change at our fingertips, seize it. As students, where so much of our future will be dictated by AI or macroeconomic conditions, take this opportunity where you can tangibly shape a future where our power doesn’t languish, but rather leads the charge for a better tomorrow.
Tommy Leggat-Barr ’28 can be reached at thomas_leggat-barr@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
