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Ian Russell

Democratic strategist and Partner at Beacon Media; former DCCC Deputy Executive Director and National Political Director.

Nov 1, 2026

3:50
But I mean, it's gonna be a crazy night.
3:54
So as a Democrat, the thing I'll be looking very closely at, I think, which has a lot of relevance for the future of the party, is what types of states and districts can Democrats win in? And that will determine the size of whatever wave environment we're in.
4:07
In 2018, Democratic gains were mostly, not exclusively, but mostly restricted to suburbs where Trump's numbers tanked.
4:16
In fact, as you all would know, Republicans picked up seats in the Senate, while Democrats did a great job at the House level.
4:22
We had a couple aberrations to that, one in Maine with Jared Golden against Bruce Poliquin, but generally it was a suburban anti-Trump revolt.
4:29
Twenty years ago, Democrats were winning Senate seats in the Midwest and the Great Plains.
4:34
People were willing to vote for Democrats because we weren't as ideologically balkanized as we are as a country right now.

39 MINS LATER

43:43
You've got evidence to make that case.
3:22
But I mean, it's going to be a crazy night.
3:25
So as a Democrat, the thing I'll be looking very closely at, I think, which has a lot of relevance for the future of the party, is what types of states and districts can Democrats win in? And that will determine the size of whatever wave environment we're in.
3:38
In 2018, Democratic gains were mostly, not exclusively, but mostly restricted to suburbs where Trump's numbers tanked.
3:47
In fact, as you all would know, Republicans picked up seats in the Senate, while Democrats did a great job at the House level.
3:54
We had a couple aberrations to that, one in Maine with Jared Golden against Bruce Poliquin, but generally it was a suburban anti-Trump revolt.
4:01
Twenty years ago, Democrats were winning Senate seats in the Midwest and the Great Plains.
4:05
People were willing to vote for Democrats because we weren't as ideologically balkanized as we are as a country right now.

39 MINS LATER

43:14
got evidence to make that case.

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