Midterm Elections Collection

Your Guide to Lesser-known Elections

Presented with our partners at New Hampshire Public Radio’s Civics 101 podcast, this collection features two new films, podcast episodes and lessons that focus on historical and contemporary midterm elections.

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Midterm Elections: 1966 Midterms Signal a Realignment, Shaping Today’s Parties

Southern voters, once loyal to the Democratic Party, elected Republican candidates in 1966 as the two parties began to sort themselves into distinctly partisan camps.

Midterm Elections: How 1994 Midterms Set Off an Era of Divisive Politics

Midterm elections, often a referendum on the sitting president’s agenda, can set the stage for future policy debates. Economic and social issues with roots in the 1994 midterms are still being debated today.

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Every decade, states engage in redistricting – the redrawing of congressional and state legislative boundaries – after the release of new census data. This process often becomes politicized, with district lines drawn to create partisan advantages and disadvantages, a tactic known as gerrymandering.

How Watergate and Citizens United Shaped Campaign Finance Law

The Watergate campaign finance scandals led to a landmark law designed to limit the influence of money in politics. Decades later, some say the scandal isn’t what’s illegal, it’s what’s legal.

Lesson Plan: How Watergate and Citizens United Shaped Campaign Finance Law
Student Activity: Campaign Finance – Concept Application FRQ
Student Activity: Citizens United SCOTUS FRQ

Civics 101: A Podcast

Civics 101 is the podcast refresher course on the basics of how the U.S. government works, hosted by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice.

We offer graphic organizers and other educational resources for teachers looking to use Civics 101 in the classroom.

Check out these brand new podcasts devoted to midterm elections. Find links and classroom resources at: https://www.civics101podcast.org/midterms

Teaching About Midterm Elections

This webinar, presented with our partners at New Hampshire Public Radio’s Civics 101 podcast, features two new films, and lessons that focus on historical and contemporary midterm elections. If your students have ever wondered why political parties seem to have traded places, or what makes a midterm election different, we have free resources for you.