David Brady

David Brady is a political scientist and the Hoover Institution’s Davies Family Senior Fellow Emeritus, as well as Professor of Political Economy and Political Science Emeritus at Stanford. His research focuses on American elections, political parties, Congress, and public policy; he co-authored *From Dominance to Parity: America’s Political Parties and the New Era of Electoral Instability*.

Falling Approval and Independent Shifts Point to Democratic House Gains

Stanford political scientists David Brady and Douglas Rivers see a plausible path to a Democratic wave in the 2026 midterms, particularly in the House, where Brady estimates the party could gain about 30 seats. Brady bases that forecast on falling presidential approval and a shift among independent voters, while Rivers is more cautious about race-by-race predictions but says the overall direction is easier to estimate. They warn that voter dissatisfaction with Donald Trump does not necessarily amount to support for Democrats, leaving the party’s Senate prospects and post-election strategy less certain.

Hoover InstitutionOct 30, 202611 min read