Husser spoke to several media outlets following Tuesday's election which saw Democrats take control of both the US House and Senate.
Jason Husser, director of the 鶹Ƶ Poll and professor of political science and public policy, provided analysis to several media outlets following the 2026 midterm elections, offering insight into key races in North Carolina and significant Democratic victories across the country.
Husser spoke with , and about the election results, voter sentiment and what the outcomes could signal for the political landscape moving forward.
In North Carolina, Democrat and former Gov. Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley in the race for the U.S. Senate. While Cooper entered Election Day with a lead in the polls, Husser noted that the margin of victory was particularly noteworthy.
“I’m not at all surprised that Cooper won the night, but I am surprised by the margin that Cooper won by,” Husser told WFMY. “Our last poll had Cooper up 13 points, but Cooper exceeded that lead.”
The results in North Carolina were part of a broader trend across the country, as Democrats secured significant victories in several races, including contests in traditionally Republican strongholds.
Husser also offered perspective on what the Democratic victories could reveal about the national political climate, particularly as voters weighed the first two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.
“We’re seeing losses by Republicans in what should have been very safe Republican districts,” Husser told WXLV. “I see 2026 as a reaction to the last two years of the Trump administration, and not so much a change in cultural zeitgeist or outlook of the American public as a whole.”