The Potential Impact Of Energy Prices On The Economy and On The 2026 Midterm Elections

As voters head to the polls in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, energy prices are at the center of the economic debate. Headline CPI rose to 3.7% in September, and gasoline prices are up 34.2% on average since the beginning of President Trump’s second term. As of October 23, Cook Political Report projected Democratic gains of 12 to 22 House seats, while control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53 to 47 majority, remained more uncertain. Because President Trump would keep his veto through January 2029, a Democratic Congress would be more likely to block further rollbacks, strengthen oversight and gain leverage in spending negotiations than to reverse energy policy wholesale. For fusion, which already has bipartisan support through proposals such as the $10 billion American Leadership in Fusion Act, the analysis argues that the most important outcome is not the election but a demonstrated achievement of Qeng>1.