America at the Polls:

The 2026 Midterms and the Future of US Democracy

organized by the Department of American Studies, University of Innsbruck

The US midterm elections on November 3, 2026, will be more than a vote on the country’s political leadership. Held halfway through a presidential term, the midterms determine the composition of both chambers of Congress, as well as numerous state and local offices. The results will also determine whether Democrats can regain control of one or both chambers of Congress and gain greater power to check the Trump administration. The 2026 elections will therefore be a crucial test of the resilience of democracy and the rule of law in the United States.

The program brings together research, public discussion, and film. In his guest lecture, Philipp Ardoin from our partner institution, Appalachian State University, will explore the stakes of the 2026 midterms and the democratic challenges surrounding this election cycle, including partisan redistricting, the persistent and increasing claims of election fraud, and broader developments described as democratic erosion. He will also place these developments in a comparative perspective, considering what the 2026 election results – and the Trump era more broadly – can tell us about the resilience of the rule of law, democratic institutions, and democratic norms in the United States.

The program also features a screening of HBO’s Fahrenheit 451 (2018), followed by a panel discussion. Based on Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel, the film explores censorship, the suppression of dissent, and the erosion of critical thought, making it a particularly relevant starting point for discussing contemporary questions about democracy, political power, and the role of media and information.

The events offer an opportunity to connect current US politics with broader questions about resilience and the future of democratic societies, while also strengthening the academic partnership between our university and Appalachian State University.

We cordially invite you to join us at the University of Innsbruck! Both events are open to the public. No registration required.

 

"American Democracy Under Strain: Forecasts, Fault Lines, and the November 2026 Elections"

Guest Lecture

Phillip J. Ardoin, Professor of Political Science, Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University

Abstract: Join us for an evening of discussion of election forecasts and democratic diagnosis. Professor Ardoin will present a forecast model for the 2026 U.S. Congressional elections and address the institutional pressures that make American elections unlike those in most European democracies: legislators drawing their own districts, contested rules of voter access, and the erosion of confidence in results. Finally, he will look ahead to what will likely be two long years of divided government, congressional oversight, and a long road to 2028.

Introduction by Cornelia Klecker

October 28, 2026, 6:00 pm | Lecture Hall 5 (Innrain 52e)

 

Fahrenheit 451 (2018)

Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Panelists: Phillip J. Ardoin, Christian Quendler, and Cornelia Klecker
Moderated by Matthias Klestil

 October 29, 2026, 6 pm | Lecture Hall 5 (Innrain 52e)

 

Organization

This event series is organized by Cornelia Klecker and Matthias Klestil with the Department of American Studies.

 

Sponsors

This event series is generously funded by the International Relations Office, University of Innsbruck, and Appalachian State University.
 

Department of American Studies
University of Innsbruck
Innrain 52d
6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Tel: +43 (0)512 507 41601 (Secretary’s Office)
www.uibk.ac.at/amerikastudien/