The 2026 primary elections saw an unprecedented wave of House incumbents ousted, with the highest number of losses in over five decades—at least since 1970.
Notably, Florida Republican Rep. Corey Mills was the 11th incumbent to suffer defeat in their primary, which ties this year with a historical record. The last instances of significant losses occurred in 1974 and 2020, each with eight incumbents losing, and in 1980 when six were defeated.
Traditionally, incumbents have enjoyed an edge in elections, but that perception faced a stark challenge as disapproval ratings for Congress soared. A Gallup poll revealed only 10% approval in April, while disapproval hit a staggering 86%. By July, approval had slightly risen to 16%, but disapproval remained high at 80%.
Gallup reported that these declining approval ratings sharply followed the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which began in spring 2025.
As midterm elections approach, Congress is on track to enact fewer bills during this two-year session, though they are consolidating some legislation into larger packages. Senate Republicans are feeling the heat to advance the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, but several other crucial bills—including those related to virtual currency and a significant funding settlement—remain unpassed.
So far, the elections have seen seven Democratic and four Republican incumbents lose their positions, including Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar from Michigan and Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw from Texas. Many Democratic losses were attributed to younger, progressive candidates gaining traction, particularly among college-educated voters turning out in droves for non-incumbents.
Cory Mills’ loss makes this year the most incumbents to lose their primary elections in a year without redistricting since 1970.
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) August 19, 2026
Interestingly, members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are gearing up to send their largest-ever Congressional delegation. DSA Rep. Melat Quiros recently unseated longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado, while Mr. Thanedar lost to Donavan McKinney, who had DSA support.
Younger Democratic candidates have largely triumphed over their older counterparts, whereas older Republican incumbents have generally managed to keep their seats.
Other incumbents who faced defeat include Republican Reps. Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Andy Ogles from Tennessee, along with Democratic Reps. Al Green, Julie Johnson, Adriano Espaillat, Dan Goldman, and John Larson from New York and Connecticut, respectively.
Mills is currently under scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice due to allegations of sexual misconduct and violations related to campaign financing. Interestingly, former President Trump has shown support for several other Congress members even after public disagreements.
In Ohio, Republican Rep. Max Miller is campaigning for re-election in his district despite facing domestic violence accusations from his ex-wife Emily Moreno.
