Democracies rarely collapse in dramatic moments. More often, they erode quietly – rules bent, norms ignored, institutions weakened until they exist mostly on paper. In 2025, the United States experienced a profound shift in the separation of powers. In 2026, Americans will face a choice that determines whether the guardrails of our democracy still function or whether they become mere formalities in a system increasingly concentrated in executive authority.
The U.S. Constitution divides governing power among three branches – executive, legislative and judicial – to ensure that laws are written, interpreted, defended and enforced fairly. Its strength also lies in protecting individual liberties through the Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedoms of speech, religion, the press and assembly; protects due process; and safeguards citizens from unreasonable searches and abuses of power.
In 2025, these foundational principles were challenged by the Trump administration. Through extensive use of executive orders, citizen rights and government institutions that once made the United States a global model have been weakened or dismantled. The consequences have included diminished global security, increased economic instability and a fractured international reputation.
At first glance, the 2026 election cycle may appear routine. Every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will be contested, along with roughly one-third of the Senate. Voters will also elect governors, state legislators, attorneys general, secretaries of state, judges and local officials. These races often receive little national attention, yet they determine how elections are run, how laws are enforced and how much power a president is allowed to wield.
Under a second Trump presidency, this is not a typical midterm election. It is a regime-shaping moment that will determine whether the American republic can endure.
At the center of this election is the balance of power. Congress is not merely a lawmaking body; it is a constitutional check on presidential authority. When functioning independently, Congress investigates wrongdoing, oversees federal agencies, confirms or blocks appointments, controls spending and enforces constitutional limits. In 2025, these checks failed. With Republican control of both chambers, Congress essentially surrendered its authority to the executive branch. The officials elected in 2026 will decide whether legislative power is reclaimed or further abandoned.
State governments play an equally critical role. They administer elections and set voting rules. They regulate access to reproductive health care, oversee policing and criminal justice, fund public education, manage utilities, and determine whether federal policies are implemented or resisted. Many of the decisions that most affect daily life are made at the state level. The outcomes of state elections can either strengthen democratic accountability or accelerate democratic erosion.
The judiciary, charged with interpreting and applying the law, also shapes the future of democracy. Judges rule on election disputes, civil rights, executive authority and the limits of government power. Some judges are elected; others are appointed by officials voters choose. Their decisions can influence the law for decades. Courts do not defend democracy automatically – their composition matters. The current Supreme Court has failed in this responsibility and has contributed to the erosion of democracy. Increasingly, only the lower courts remain a meaningful line of defense against authoritarian overreach.
Democracy, however, is not the only issue at stake in 2026. Tariffs and the growing concentration of wealth and market power among a small group of oligarchs are also reshaping the U.S. economy. Affordability has become the defining reality of daily life for most Americans. The rising costs of housing, food, health care, utilities and transportation determine whether families can live with stability and dignity. Officials elected in 2026 will decide budgets, taxes, regulations and investments that either relieve these pressures or intensify them. Economic outcomes are inseparable from political accountability.
The Constitution’s greatest strength is that it places power in the hands of the people through the vote. That power only works when it is exercised. Institutions do not defend themselves. Civil-rights advocates warn that pressure on courts, independent agencies and the civil service intensifies when electoral accountability weakens. The most effective response is participation – electing representatives who are accountable to voters rather than to any single individual.
The United States is a nation shaped by Indigenous peoples, immigrants and their descendants, united by a shared right to vote. That right has meaning only if it is used.
Democracy does not disappear overnight. It erodes when people stop showing up. In 2026, Americans must decide whether they will. Register to vote. Choose leaders governed by the Constitution and guided by moral and ethical standards. Then cast your vote.
Concetta C. DiRusso, Ph.D., and Paul N. Black, Ph.D., are Professors Emeritus at the University of Nebraska, Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and members of the Professional Associates at Fort Lewis College. Black is a Durango native; both live in Durango.
